{"id":185713,"date":"2025-09-27T16:52:09","date_gmt":"2025-09-27T16:52:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/185713\/"},"modified":"2025-09-27T16:52:09","modified_gmt":"2025-09-27T16:52:09","slug":"nfl-eyes-asia-as-next-game-destination-while-it-bolsters-ties-with-dublin","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/185713\/","title":{"rendered":"NFL Eyes Asia as Next Game Destination While It Bolsters Ties With Dublin"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The NFL<\/a> wants to expand its slate of international games to Asia, Commissioner Roger Goodell said Saturday without specifying any countries.<\/p>\n

Goodell\u2019s comment at an event in Dublin could indicate the league is ready to stage a game in the Middle East, and it comes a day after announcing that Rio de Janeiro will join the list of international hosts in 2026.<\/p>\n

The Pittsburgh Steelers<\/a> and Minnesota Vikings<\/a> play in Ireland’s first regular-season game \u2014 and Goodell said he has no doubt there will be more in Dublin.<\/p>\n

Sunday’s game at Croke Park is the second of seven international games this season, and in 2026 Australia will host a regular-season game for the first time.<\/p>\n

“I think our next step after Australia would be probably moving into Asia,” Goodell said. “That\u2019s a continent we\u2019d like to be playing in. We are serious about being a global sport. We would like to get to 16 games so everyone is playing one game a year internationally.”<\/p>\n

A league spokesman declined to comment on which Asian countries the NFL is considering.<\/p>\n

Middle East?<\/p>\n

The NFL has already scouted locations in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates, to hold a game.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Saudi Arabia would likely be in the mix, too.<\/p>\n

The oil-rich kingdom is set to host a flag football tournament next year featuring Tom Brady<\/a> and active players including Saquon Barkley<\/a>, CeeDee Lamb<\/a> and Christian McCaffrey<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Brady, the seven-time Super Bowl-winning quarterback and minority owner of the Las Vegas Raiders<\/a>, is partnering with Turki Alalshikh, chairman of the Saudi General Entertainment Authority, to promote the event.<\/p>\n

Saudi Arabia has spent massively on global sports in recent years. FIFA confirmed last year that Saudi Arabia will host the 2034 World Cup in men\u2019s soccer.<\/p>\n

Return to Dublin<\/p>\n

The agreement in Ireland is one game followed by an evaluation period, but Goodell said Saturday he\u2019s optimistic it won\u2019t be one and done.<\/p>\n

“We never like to say whether we\u2019re coming back until we finish the first one, so let\u2019s talk about it Monday,” Goodell said at a fan event. “But I have no doubt this is going to be incredibly successful.\u00a0<\/p>\n

“I also have no doubt that we\u2019ll be back.”<\/p>\n

The Gaelic Athletic Association, which owns Croke Park, has already said it hopes it won’t be a “one-off.” And the Irish government, which allocated up to $11.7 million to support Sunday’s game, has said it is interested in more games.<\/p>\n

Dublin already hosts a college football game each season at Aviva Stadium.<\/p>\n

Irish weather says hello<\/p>\n

After a couple of pleasant days, the rain returned Saturday.<\/p>\n

The Irish Meteorological Service expects Sunday to be “mainly dry with sunshine” after morning showers. The temperature should be around 60 degrees Fahrenheit.<\/p>\n

Irish weather can be unpredictable, but Vikings quarterback Carson Wentz<\/a> said he’s not stressed.\u00a0<\/p>\n

“Growing up in North Dakota, I’ve played in any weather,” he said Friday at a press conference. “That doesn’t really intimidate me in that capacity.”<\/p>\n

Reporting by The Associated Press.<\/p>\n

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