(New York) The NFL has been vocal about demand for its international games ahead of the five scheduled for the 2023 schedule and confirmed Friday that cities in Brazil and Spain are being considered to host those games in the future.
London will host three meetings this season, including the first on Sunday, between the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Atlanta Falcons at Wembley Stadium. In November, two games will be played in Frankfurt, Germany, including a very promising showing between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Miami Dolphins.
The league made it easier to hold these duels abroad by adding a 17th game to the schedule, in addition to granting marketing rights to teams in certain countries.
The first match in Germany last season was a considerable success. Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers defeated the Seattle Seahawks 21-16 in Munich.
The NFL said it has not given a timeline for adding new cities to the list, but confirmed that senior officials recently visited Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo, Brazil, as well as Madrid, Spain, to “build relationships, visit stadiums and look for partners.”
New host cities could even be invited to the party as early as 2024. The NFL is also interested in France and Australia, although none of its leaders have visited these countries.
The NFL hopes to return in the near future to Mexico City’s Estadio Azteca, which is currently undergoing renovations in preparation for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
