Overview
- Commissioner Roger Goodell told German broadcaster RTL/ntv that he has “no doubt” the NFL will eventually include teams based outside the United States.
- The league will play a record nine regular-season games abroad in 2026 and owners approved a cap of up to 10 international games starting in 2027 to expand that testing.
- The NFL’s Global Markets Program and recent experiments — back-to-back overseas games, longer road trips and varied arrival windows — are being used to measure fan demand and operational feasibility.
- Major hurdles remain including long flights and player acclimation, higher foreign tax regimes, competitive-balance concerns and the need to negotiate changes with the NFL Players Association.
- If the league moves forward it faces choices about creating new franchises versus relocating teams, the possibility of a Europe-based division, and the longer-term prospect of holding a Super Bowl only after a city proves it can support a full-time team.