Where could the NFL International Series expand to next?
When the NFL first hit international shores in 2007, staging its inaugural game at Wembley Stadium, it was clear the league had ambitions to grow its global audience.
Since then, the appetite for American football has surged across the UK and beyond. The NFL has steadily expanded its footprint: Mexico in 2016, Germany in 2022, and Brazil in 2024.
Now in 2025, the International Series reaches new heights with Madrid and Dublin both set to host games for the first time.
With seven games across five countries this year alone – and Melbourne already locked in for 2026 – the NFL shows no signs of slowing down.
Commissioner Roger Goodell has even suggested a future where as many as 16 games could be staged outside the United States each season.
That level of growth would reshape the calendar, the logistics, and even the NFL BET markets as teams adjust to new environments and longer travel.
How fans and players would respond to that remains to be seen, but the question is clear: if the expansion continues, where might the NFL land next?
Paris
Paris feels like a natural next step for the NFL. The NBA has successfully staged games in the French capital for years, including regular season matchups since 2020, proving there’s a strong appetite for American sports in France.
The Stade de France, with a capacity of over 80,000 and a recent renovation ahead of the Summer Olympics, would provide an ideal venue.
There’s also a cultural and marketing link: the New Orleans Saints hold international marketing rights in France, making them a logical candidate to play there. Paris hosting an NFL game feels more like “when” than “if.”
Italy
Europe has become the NFL’s strongest growth region, with games already established in London, Munich, Frankfurt, and now Madrid. Italy could be the next country added to that list.
While American football doesn’t enjoy the same popularity there as in Germany or the UK, it has a dedicated following, aided by domestic competitions like the Italian Football League (IFL).
Rome’s Stadio Olimpico is an obvious option, but Milan is also in play, with both Inter and AC Milan planning a new modern stadium to replace San Siro.
If built to NFL specifications, it could follow the lead of Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and Real Madrid’s Santiago Bernabéu as a venue designed for multiple sports.
Middle East
Few regions have invested in global sport as heavily as the Middle East in recent years. Qatar hosted the 2022 FIFA World Cup, Saudi Arabia has become a hub for boxing and football, and the UAE has already welcomed exploratory visits from the NFL.
Both Dubai and Abu Dhabi have been linked as potential hosts, and given the region’s world-class infrastructure and experience staging major events, it seems like a serious contender.
Add to that the fact that the Los Angeles Rams, San Francisco 49ers, and Washington Commanders already hold international marketing rights in the UAE, and the groundwork for a Middle East debut is already being laid.
The editorial unit
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