On Tuesday at the NFL Owners’ Meetings in Orlando, the owners approved a larger slate of International games moving forward. This year, a record nine games were scheduled outside the United States, but that has now been increased to 10, starting with the 2027 season.
And that ten doesn’t include the Jacksonville Jaguars’ annual game in London, so technically, there could be 11 games played internationally starting next year, pending the NFL Players Association approval.
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Currently, each team with a ninth regular-season home game is eligible to host an international game while protecting two matchups from being selected, but in 2027, teams will no longer be able to protect any games from being moved.
That means we could see the Chicago Bears host the Green Bay Packers in Spain as soon as 2027. Spain is one of the Bears’ International markets, along with the United Kingdom. There are 22 global markets shared among the 32 clubs, but the League plans to open even more territories to market the sport.
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has said that 16 international games each year is the long-term goal, meaning every team’s ninth home game will be played outside the United States.
These games often have a Super Bowl feel for the host cities, so what are the chances the Super Bowl will be played abroad someday?
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“I don’t know if I can fully parse that in terms of feasibility versus likelihood, but if you’re just talking feasibility, obviously, as we go to new stadiums around the world, we’re getting a better sense of those buildings,” NFL executive Peter O’Reilly said. “And, as we go around the whole world, we get a sense of the passion there, and the partnerships, governmental partnerships, private sector partnerships, and otherwise. So I think all of that strengthens the foundation that you need to perhaps someday on a far off horizon have an international Super Bowl.”
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