Since the inception of the NFL’s International Series in 2007, a franchise permanently based overseas has been a league target. Nothing is imminent on that front, but it remains on the NFL’s priority list.
“At some point, there will be NFL teams outside the USA,” commissioner Roger Goodell said during an interview with former defensive lineman Markus Kuhn for German outlet RTL/ntv. “I have no doubt that this will happen one day.”
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Expansion of the league’s international slate of games has continued over time, and a total of nine games played outside the United States will take place in 2026. Owners voted in the spring to allow for a further increase in the number of regular-season contests which are played overseas, while new markets are consistently receiving NFL attention. Of course, that is a separate matter from expanding the league to include one or more international franchises.
Logistics are a primary talking point when it comes to overseas games. That will especially be true in the case of Week 1’s Australia contest, a geographic departure from the games previously played in Mexico, Brazil and various locations in Europe. Regardless of where a foreign franchise would be based, travel would be a major hurdle to overcome if it were to play a schedule in line with the league’s other teams.
Goodell also acknowledged that “international cities” could receive future consideration for hosting major events including the Super Bowl. Any consideration on that front would only take place if/when a non-US team were in the fold, however. While no timeline exists in that regard, Goodell’s comments confirm a significant second stage of the league’s overseas growth is still on the NFL’s radar.