Goodell Says NFL Will Put Teams Abroad, Sparking Backlash as 9 International Games Loom in 2026
Updated
Updated · Yahoo Sports · Aug 18
Goodell Says NFL Will Put Teams Abroad, Sparking Backlash as 9 International Games Loom in 2026
3 articles · Updated · Yahoo Sports · Aug 18
Summary
Goodell told Germany's RTL/ntv he has "no doubt" the NFL will eventually base franchises outside the United States and said an international city could one day host a Super Bowl.
Nine regular-season games are already scheduled outside the U.S. in 2026, with Melbourne, Paris and Rio joining London, Munich, Madrid and Mexico City; owners have approved 10 a year from 2027.
That expansion made the idea feel less hypothetical, with London seen as the leading candidate and Munich, Frankfurt, Mexico City and Madrid also cited as possible homes for a permanent team.
Fans on X attacked the plan as a threat to the league's identity and competitiveness, while also questioning whether U.S. players would relocate families overseas.
Travel, time zones, recovery demands, tax rules and NFLPA talks remain major hurdles, underscoring how far the league still is from turning Goodell's vision into reality.