Roger Goodell told the NFL Network’s Colleen Wolfe the league is looking to play eight foreign games in 2025. That is the maximum number currently allowed. Given the veteran commissioner’s sway, it is probably a good bet half the league’s teams — or nearly half, depending on the Jaguars’ plans — will be playing a game outside the country next season.
Goodell wants another Brazil game scheduled and is looking for a 2025 Mexico date as well. The league is set to debut in Spain next season, and Goodell expressed hope for a 2025 Ireland game. CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones indicates an Ireland game will be on tap for the ’25 season. Dublin has been rumored as a potential site for a bit, and it appears an announcement pertaining to an expansion into that country is in the works.
I like that the NFL has these international games. It is pretty cool for fans around the world to get a chance to see the NFL live and in person.
Having said that, what is the end goal here? I feel like people have carefully looked at adding international teams and it would be impossible for multiple reasons.
Is the entire goal / end goal to all of this simply creating fans worldwide for additional revenue streams, or does anyone thing the larger goal is for international teams to enter the mix?
Question - Soccer is an international sport, but there are multiple leagues, no?
You have LaLiga, the Premier League, MLS, etc. I don’t think there’s one overarching umbrella company / league over all of them. That’d be impossible to have divisions and things like that.
Does the NFL want to make (American) football a global sport so they can start additional leagues, perhaps?
NFL = America
IFL = Europe
SAFL = South American Football League
Etc?
If so, is the idea for the NFL to own all of them?
Every time I try to kind of build it out in my head I run into confusing scenarios with tons of obstacles that make me wonder what the NFL’s primary goal is.
Part of me thinks it’s mainly to sell international TV rights + jerseys / memorabilia worldwide.
There’s another part that thinks they are truly trying to expand and add more teams / leagues, but I just can’t figure out how that would work in a way that makes sense to the NFL…outside of being completely separate leagues from the NFL, but owned by the same umbrella?
I knew this would be the response to what I said and it’s logical.
I just know very little about soccer as it is a sport I don’t watch at all. I know there are different leagues and levels or something to that effect.
I don’t know if the NFL could try and generate something like European basketball where the players good enough get added to the NBA draft when eligible.
I just think the NFL wants a global sport and keep adding $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ to the owners and players bottomlines
LMAO, can you imagine the fans in other countries that love Soccer an have called THAT Football for two hundred years, See The American version of Football and be totally lost or really mad, that it’s not soccer?
I’m old and I never really liked the international idea. I just feel like there will be some kind of concessions if they do get European, or world franchises that are going to screw up the whole game. Schedule, playoffs, everything is going to be screwed up. (I offer no evidence)
And get off my grass!
Fun fact - Did you know the name 'soccer ’ actually originates in England . They used it to differentiate the sport from Rugby football ’ . Its a play on the term ‘association’ football
More fans = more merchandise sales
= more tv viewers
Which means more money.
Thats why they have the international pathway program for an easier way for players overseas to join the NFL.
They have broadcast deals with other countries to build a bigger audience.
I dont think they would EVER have a international NFL league. It would be a minor league system if anything. But i doubt the NFL would ever invest in one.
I did! It also feels like a very English truncation, in the same vein as rugger, oncer, tenner, brekkers, Giggsy, Gazza, Mozza, Becks, Macca, etc…
Which is why I find it amusing to be berated for calling it soccer. Certainly the British version of football makes more sense descriptively then ours does, but you know, they started it.
The word “football” originally comes from the 16th or 17th century, and was used to distinguish ball games played on foot by peasants from those played on horseback by the gentry. These early “football” games were just wild scrums of violence, and are still played today in some places (video). So “football” really has nothing to do with kicking the ball.
No one in Europe is paying good money to watch Tim Boyle and a bunch of practice squad players and future insurance salesmen play a totally meaningless game. Playing preseason in Europe would kill interest in the game, not grow it.
The big difference is that soccer teams play most of their stars in preseason and also have legitimate fan bases in North America and Asia.
