The NFL has truly elevated itself in recent years with the success it has had on the international market.
Ever since the inaugural international match between the Miami Dolphins and New York Giants in London at Wembley Stadium 18 years ago, more games have continued to be played on foreign soil, as the demand from fans across the globe to experience NFL keeps growing.
The 2025 season features the league's biggest International Series ever, as five different countries were named as hosts for the seven games on foreign soil.
Dublin, Madrid and Berlin are all set to stage regular season games for the very first time this season.
To date, 49 regular season NFL matches have taken place abroad, with 39 being held in London.
With the success of the NFL's International Series, questions have been posed as to whether a new foreign franchise could be established in the league.
📲 Follow The Sporting News on WhatsApp
NFL Commissioner addresses potential of an international team
Ahead of the NFL's first regular season game in Ireland on Sunday (September 28), between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Minnesota Vikings, the league's Commissioner has touched on a foreign franchise potentially being formed.
"The markets outside the U.S. are very, very attractive. There are markets that could certainly support a team," Roger Goodell told CNBC in an exclusive interview.
The NFL boss then touched on the aspects needed to be considered for wider international plans.
"We’ve always focused on, what are the competitive consequences of that? Can we manage that? And so every year we try to learn something from the international series," he explained.
More: NFL Game Pass in UK: Price and more to know to watch every football game in 2025 season live on DAZN
The Vikings are set to play in London against the Cleveland Browns just a week after taking on the Steelers in Dublin. Goodell thinks this demonstrates signs that an international expansion could work.
"It starts to give you a sense of, can you do certain things that are going to be necessary from a scheduling standpoint and a training standpoint?"
The NFL commissioner then hinted that more regular season games would continue to be played overseas, and a wide variety of teams could feature in them.
"When we first came up with the idea, I didn’t think there would be as much support. But now, every team wants to do it. We don’t have to talk them into it. They’re asking us."
Next season, Australia will host an NFL game for the very first time, with the Los Angeles Rams confirmed to be one of the competing teams.