NFL to hold first game in Spain in 2025

The National Football League (NFL) will play its first game in Spain next year.

Confirmed:

• The 2025 regular season games will be held at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium, home of Spanish soccer giants Real Madrid.
• Spain becomes the fifth country to participate in the NFL’s International Games, after the United Kingdom, Mexico, Germany and Brazil, and the third country in Europe to participate in the NFL’s International Games.

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NFL commissioner Roger Goodell made it clear last year that Spain was on track to become the league’s other international hub. In December, it was confirmed that the Brazilian city of São Paulo would host regular season games in 2024, but Peter O’Reilly (pictured above, left), the NFL’s executive vice president of club business, international and league events, said , Madrid had said it would be held. It remains a candidate in 2025.

If successful, Madrid could join the likes of London’s Tottenham Hotspur Stadium as the league’s next mainstay on the international stage. The names of the two teams for the match at the Santiago Bernabéu have not yet been revealed, but reports in Spain suggest that either the Miami Dolphins or the Chicago Bears, both of whom have international sales rights in their country, will host the match. It is said that it will happen.

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“Bringing the match to Madrid in 2025 reflects the continued expansion of the league’s global footprint and our accelerated ambition to bring our game to more fans around the world. “It highlights that,” Goodell said.

“Together with the City of Madrid and the Comunidad de Madrid, we are proud to partner with the global brand Real Madrid CF to bring great regular season competition to Spain at the world-class Santiago Bernabéu Stadium. I think so.”

Next up:

Mr O’Reilly said there was “nothing imminent” about the league’s expansion into Asia or Australia, but it “continues to be considered”.

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