NFL 2025 International Games: A Preview of Seven Matchups Across the Globe
Key Insights
The NFL will hold seven international games in 2025, a new record.
Games will be played in London (Wembley Stadium & Tottenham Hotspur Stadium), Dublin (Croke Park), Madrid (Santiago Bernabéu Stadium), Berlin (Olympic Stadium), and Sao Paulo (Corinthians Arena).
First-time host cities include Dublin, Madrid, and Berlin.
The Jaguars will play their 12th game in London in 13 seasons.
The Browns will play in London for the first time in eight years.
The Dolphins' game in Madrid is reported to take place in November.
The Chargers' game in Brazil will happen on Friday of Week 1.
The NFC West teams (Rams, Seahawks, Cardinals, 49ers) benefit from facing weaker divisions (AFC South and NFC South).
Why this matters: The expanded international series reflects the NFL's growing global popularity and provides opportunities for teams to build fan bases abroad.
In-Depth Analysis
The move to seven international games is a considerable step toward NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell's goal of potentially hosting 16 international games per season. The league has already announced the home teams for these matchups, but the away teams are yet to be confirmed. While divisional games have not been played outside North America since 2019, there's always the possibility of that changing. Possible opponent predictions have been made based on past scheduling patterns and team histories in international games.
The NFC West, in particular, stands to gain from the 2025 schedule rotation. They will face teams from the AFC South and NFC South, which were among the weakest divisions in the NFL last season. This favorable schedule could lead to more wins for NFC West teams and potentially more playoff berths.
FAQs
Q: When will the full 2025 NFL schedule be released?
A: The NFL is expected to announce the full schedule, including the opponents for the international games, in May.
Q: Which teams have played the fewest international games?
A: The Cowboys, Commanders, Browns, and Steelers were tied for the fewest, though the Browns and Steelers are slated to play international games in 2025.
Q: Has a regular-season game ever been played in Ireland?
A: No, 2025 will mark the first regular-season NFL game in Ireland (Steelers at Croke Park).
Key Takeaways
Impact: The 2025 NFL season promises more international exposure than ever before.
Key Actions: Fans should keep an eye out for the full schedule release in May to see when and where their favorite teams will be playing.
Most Important: For NFC West fans, it is expected for the favorable schedule to lead to increased competition within their own division.
Discussion
Do you think the NFL's international expansion will continue to grow? Let us know! Share this with others who need to stay ahead of this trend!
Sources & References
2025 NFL schedule: Here's the full list of seven international games with possible opponents: https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/2025-nfl-schedule-heres-the-full-list-of-seven-international-games-with-possible-opponents/?ref=yanuki.com
How the Seattle Seahawks and NFC West will benefit in 2025: https://sports.mynorthwest.com/1878135/how-seahawks-nfc-west-benefit-2025/?ref=yanuki.com
2025 schedule rotation sets up well for the Rams, rest of NFC West - NBC Sports: https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootballtalk/rumor-mill/news/2025-schedule-rotation-sets-up-well-for-the-rams-rest-of-nfc-west?ref=yanuki.com
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