REPORT: NFL Is Eyeing One Of The World’s Largest Countries To Host A Regular Season Game In Near Future

Roger Goodell (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
The NFL is reportedly eyeing one of the world’s largest nations to host an NFL regular season game, perhaps as soon as 2025.

Over the past two years, the NFL has expanded tremendously on its International Series. They started running games in Germany in the 2022 season, with another one on the way (Carolina Panthers vs. New York Giants in Munich on Nov. 10). On Sept. 6, the Philadelphia Eagles will play the Green Bay Packers in São Paulo, marking the first-ever NFL regular season game in Brazil.

And now, it sounds like the NFL International Series could expand to the Land Down Under.

According to a report from 9 News in Melbourne, Australia could host an NFL regular season contest very soon, potentially as soon as next year. It was noted that a game in Australia would likely feature the Los Angeles Rams:

“If the MCG and Visit Victoria have their way, there will be an NFL regular season match played in Melbourne within two years.

9News can reveal the Melbourne Cricket Club is exploring the possibility of hosting a game in the 2025/26 season.

While discussions are in their early stages, it’s understood the LA Rams have been slated as the ‘home’ franchise for what would be an historic occasion in Australia’s sports capital…The Rams are the early preferred hosts due the proximity of LA to Melbourne. A direct flight operates between the two cities.”

The first game in the NFL International Series took place in 2007, with the New York Giants defeating the Miami Dolphins 13-10 at London’s historic Wembley Stadium. With the exception of the 2020 season, which was impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, there have been two NFL regular season games in London every year since 2019.

Five NFL games have been placed in Mexico, the first of which was in 2016, when the Houston Texans and Oakland Raiders met at Mexico City’s Estadio Azteca. The first game in Germany saw the Tampa Bay Buccaneers take on the Seattle Seahawks at Munich’s Allianz Arena.

Five NFL Regular Season International Games For 2024

Five international games are scheduled for the 2024 NFL season. The first will be the Eagles-Packers Week 1 contest at the Arena Corinthians in São Paulo.

As previously noted, the Giants and Panthers will meet at Allianz Arena in Week 10. The three London Games set for this year are the New York Jets vs. the Minnesota Vikings (Oct. 6 at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium), Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Chicago Bears (Oct. 13 at the same venue) and the New England Patriots vs. the Jacksonville Jaguars (Oct. 20 at Wembley Stadium).