ORLANDO, Fla. — Professional football will expand its global presence with more games scheduled outside American borders.
League owners gave their approval Tuesday for increasing international contests to 10 games starting after the upcoming season. This represents the highest number of overseas games permitted under the current collective bargaining agreement with the NFL Players Association.
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has stated that 16 international games remains the ultimate target.
This season will feature a record-breaking nine international contests spanning four continents, marking the debut of regular-season play in France and Australia. Rio de Janeiro will host its first game, while London gets three contests, with additional games planned for Munich, Spain, and Mexico City.
“Our strategy is not one and done so our goal is to go back to those markets that we’re establishing,” NFL executive Peter O’Reilly said. “There are parts of the world that we are looking at for future years, maybe not ’27, beyond. Asia would be an example of that. Japan would be a good example within Asia of a market that has complexity.”
When asked about the possibility of an international Super Bowl, O’Reilly offered measured optimism.
“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,” 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.
“You have great buildings like Tottenham (in London) that were built with the NFL in mind from Day 1. So I think passion, partners, some stadiums, there’s some feasibility, obviously a lot of other factors, inclusive of the fact there’s tremendous demand as we saw today from Nashville, from the U.S. cities in hosting this major event and the massive economic impact that comes with it, but we’re learning every day to increase the feasibility.”
Owners also passed a measure eliminating teams’ ability to shield two home games from international scheduling.
The league’s Inspire Change program has exceeded half a billion dollars in funding.
Since its 2017 inception, the NFL has distributed nearly $575 million to support thousands of partner organizations and nonprofits through four main areas: education, economic advancement, police/community relations and criminal justice reform.
Nine nonprofit organizations will receive renewed funding, including Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, Law Enforcement Action Partnership and Center for Employment Opportunities.
“It’s really a credit to the NFL family for contributing back to our communities that need us to reach the under resourced and the underserved,” said Anna Isaacson, senior vice president of social responsibility for the NFL. “The dollar amount is big, but it’s really what that dollar amount represents. It’s thousands of organizations over the last nine years that have received grants from NFL clubs, from club foundations, from the NFL Foundation, to do the work in their communities across the four pillars of Inspire Change.”
The funding renewals received approval from the Player-Owner Social Justice Committee, a 12-member group featuring current and former players from the Players Coalition alongside team owners.
“Our mission as the Players Coalition is to use our collective voices and influence to advocate for the individuals actively making a difference in their communities,” Arizona Cardinals offensive tackle Kelvin Beachum said. “The collaborative work with the NFL’s Inspire Change initiative gives players the opportunity to raise awareness of social issues and direct funds to solve them.”
Nashville and the Tennessee Titans’ upcoming Nissan Stadium will host the 2030 Super Bowl.
The Titans remain on track to complete their new venue directly opposite the existing Nissan Stadium by February, wrapping up the three-year construction project. The NFL previously brought the 2019 draft to Music City.
“That for us changed the future of the draft, arguably changed the future of the Titans and the community,” NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said. “And I think this is the next great step in a remarkable football journey and a great community in Nashville. We can’t wait to be there.”
Los Angeles will host this season’s Super Bowl, followed by Atlanta in 2028 and Las Vegas in 2029.
Minnesota will welcome the 2028 draft to Minneapolis.
Owners approved bringing the three-day event to Minneapolis, which previously hosted the 2018 Super Bowl when the Eagles beat the Patriots 41-33.
Washington will host next year’s draft.
“Minnesota knows how to show up for big moments, and we’ve experienced it firsthand,” Goodell said. “Working with the Minnesota Vikings and Minnesota Sports and Events, we look forward to bringing the 2028 NFL draft to this great community, driving positive economic impact throughout the region, and hosting an incredible event for fans and the next generation of the NFL.”
The NFL draft took place in New York from 1965 to 2014. Radio City Music Hall served as the venue nine times, with the Rockettes’ spring show forcing the draft into May in 2014. The league relocated to Chicago for two years, achieved significant success, and transformed the draft into a major attraction, particularly for cities unable to host a Super Bowl.
“For three days, Minnesota will become the center of the football world,” Vikings owner/President Mark Wilf said. “The 2028 NFL draft will give us an opportunity to showcase not just U.S. Bank Stadium, but the energy, hospitality and pride that define Minneapolis-St. Paul and the entire state and region. We have no doubt the community will deliver a world-class event that is unique to Minnesota.”
