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The NFL wrapped the first week of preseason while Commissioner Roger Goodell used a German interview to reiterate a long-term goal: teams based outside the United States. With a record nine international matchups already scheduled for 2026 — including the regular-season meeting between the 49ers and Rams in Melbourne — the debate over global expansion is suddenly more immediate for players, coaches and fans.
Speaking to RTL/ntv, Goodell said plainly, “At some point, there will be NFL teams outside the USA. I have no doubt that this will happen one day.” The comment comes as the league pushes a broad global strategy that has already placed games in Brazil, the United Kingdom, Paris, Spain, Germany and Mexico City.
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Why this matters now
Expansion beyond occasional international fixtures would reshape scheduling, travel demands and broadcast windows — with consequences for fantasy leagues, TV audiences and home-field advantages. The NFL’s recent moves, from staging marquee regular-season games abroad to featuring international stars on the Super Bowl stage, signal the league is treating global growth as a strategic priority rather than a promotional experiment.
That strategy delivered record attention last winter: the Super Bowl halftime performance by Bad Bunny drew unprecedented viewing figures, illustrating how non-U.S. artists and markets can broaden the league’s reach. For owners and broadcasters, wider global audiences promise larger revenue streams. For the people who play and coach, the picture is more complicated.
Voices inside the league
Opposition is practical rather than ideological. Many players warn that long-haul travel interferes with training schedules and recovery, potentially increasing injury risk over a 17- or 18-game season. Coaches point to lost practice time and the difficulty of preparing game plans when teams cross multiple time zones.
Fans in the United States complain that overseas kickoffs often occur at awkward local times, and that the quality of play can suffer when teams are disrupted by travel. Meanwhile, owners see a business case: new markets, sponsorships and broadcast deals that could make an expanded slate of international fixtures — or even extra regular-season games — highly lucrative.
- Competitive balance: Playing abroad repeatedly could favor teams adapted to travel or those that can stage extended stays overseas.
- Player welfare: Longer travel and schedule compression raise health and performance concerns.
- Broadcast and fans: Global windows may increase viewers overseas but complicate U.S. viewing habits and local stadium atmospheres.
- Revenue: New markets and larger international rights deals promise substantial financial upside for the league and owners.
Possible pathways and practical limits
Goodell has suggested a model where each franchise plays at least one international game per season. That idea could reduce the fairness objection — if all teams share the travel burden — and allow clubs to plan travel blocks or extended overseas stays to minimize disruption.
Still, establishing full-time teams outside the U.S. faces steep hurdles. Beyond logistics, there are legal, labor and infrastructure questions: stadium leases, training facilities, local talent development, and how the players’ union would negotiate protections for travel and recovery. The NFL has placed games in London since 2007, and while those events draw committed crowds, they have not yet created a sustained, year-round fan ecosystem comparable to home markets.
Soccer’s global dominance is another reality. Football has passionate pockets abroad, but for many international fans the NFL remains an occasional spectacle rather than a core pastime. Rapidly converting that interest into support for franchises located overseas would require long-term investment and a willingness to accept short-term competitive and scheduling trade-offs.
What to watch next
Key indicators to follow in the coming months: collective bargaining negotiations that could set travel and roster rules, official scheduling announcements for the 2026 season, and how international TV deals evolve. If owners push for more games or an extra regular-season week, expect renewed debate over whether the competitive and health costs are worth the commercial gains.
Ultimately, the league’s global ambitions are advancing in stages. International matchups will likely expand further, but full-fledged overseas franchises remain a complex, long-range prospect — one that will require agreement across players, owners and broadcasters before it becomes reality.
