Bucs chosen to play in Germany for first-ever NFL regular-season game
During the 2022 season, the Packers, Jaguars and Saints will each play internationally, as the Bucs head to Germany and the Cardinals stop in the U.K.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers will travel to Munich, Germany to play in the first 2022 NFL regular-season game in that country. The Arizona Cardinals, on the other hand, will play in Mexico City, where the league’s very first regular-season game outside the United States was in 2005. The NFL announced the news on Monday, but has yet to indicate the opponent, date and time.
“We look forward to participating in the first regular-season NFL game in Munich, Germany, later this fall as part of the International Series,” Bucs co-owner/chairman Joel Glazer, said in a statement. “This historic game will play a crucial role in the NFL’s efforts to grow its international footprint while allowing us to directly engage NFL fans in Germany.”
It is expected that the Bucs will serve as the home team at the famous Bayern Munich Stadium, which also means that it will substitute for one of the nine regular-season home games, originally taking place at Raymond James Stadium.
Due to the NFL’s efforts to expand the regular season to 17 games, each of the 32 teams is now designated to play in one international matchup every eight years. With the start of the 2022 season, up to four teams eligible for a ninth home game are appointed to play an annual international game, at a neutral site, and Tampa Bay was one of the 18 teams announced by the league in December that had access to new International Home Marketing Areas. Read more here.
Below is a full list of all designated teams to play internationally in the 2022 season
NFL teams to play internationally in 2022
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Location: Germany (Munich)
Venue: FC Bayern Munich Stadium
Arizona Cardinals
Location: Mexico (Mexico City)
Venue: Estadio Azteca
Green Bay Packers
Location: United Kingdom (London)
Venue: Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
New Orleans Saints
Location: United Kingdom (London)
Venue: Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
Jacksonville Jaguars
Location: United Kingdom (London)
Venue: Wembley Stadium
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Why are the Bucs playing in Europe?
The Florida franchise will gain opportunities for fan engagement, and marketing that will help them build their brand overseas, as well as the Carolina Panthers, Kansas City Chiefs and New England Patriots.
This will also be the Bucs’ fourth time to have played a regular-season game in Europe, with the three previous ones in London. We can expect seeing a Super Bowl overseas by 2026, as London has launched an ambitious bid to become the Super Bowl hosts at their usual stadium. And just a year before, the city of Madrid, Spain, will potentially be hosting an NFL game at its Santiago Bernabéu Stadium in 2025.
Coach Bruce Arians said in December that he meets overseas fans every time he travels and that helps grow the sport worldwide. “Every time I’ve been to Europe I’ve met so many German fans. It’s just an amazing group of fans that get together online, and they know how to party. I think American football is the greatest sport in the world and for us to be able to put it on for every place and continue to grow the game.”
While Russia’s invasion of Ukraine remains intact, the NFL still announced the news, despite the U.S. having increasing promptness for war among its allies in Europe.