The NFL hasn’t played a game here since 2022, and the presence of America’s Team would boost the sport’s popularity in the region.
Dallas Cowboys eye special return as Jerry Jones fuels international push
Jerry Jones, the owner of the Dallas Cowboys, has once again expressed his desire for the team to play an international game next season. After the Week 16 clash against the Los Angeles Chargers, he specifically voiced his hope that Mexico would host the matchup.
The Cowboys are one of the most widely followed teams in Mexico, so their potential arrival would generate huge anticipation and further boost the NFL’s popularity across the region.
El dueño de los #Cowboys Jerry Jones dijo hoy al final del partido contra los #Chargers que quiere jugar en México la próxima temporada aunque tenga que ceder un partido como local
— Carlos Nava ESPN (@TapaNava) December 21, 2025
Es la primera vez que dice estar dispuesto a ceder un juego en casa para jugar en México #NFL…
The NFL has not staged a game in Mexico since November 2022, when the San Francisco 49ers defeated the Arizona Cardinals 38–10 in a regular-season contest.Those games had been held regularly since 2016, but the renovation of the Estadio Azteca – now known as Estadio Banorte – ahead of the 2026 World Cup prevented the continuation of the series.
Cowboys owner Jerry Jones said the expectation is that they’ll play an international game next season. He mentioned Mexico, specifically, as a possibility.
— Joseph Hoyt (@JoeJHoyt) December 21, 2025
Earlier this year, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell revealed that the stadium is set to host a game in 2026, joining confirmed international venues in London, Germany, Brazil and Australia.
When was the first NFL regular-season game played in Mexico?
The NFL decided to explore opportunities beyond the United States as part of its strategy to grow the sport worldwide. It initially staged exhibition and preseason games, and the strong fan response paved the way for regular-season contests to follow.
On October 2, 2005, the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City hosted the first NFL regular-season game ever played outside the United States. The Arizona Cardinals defeated the San Francisco 49ers 31–14 in front of a crowd of nearly 103,000 fans.
NFL regular-season games played in Mexico
The NFL has staged five regular-season games in Mexico to date, all at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, marking key milestones in the league’s international expansion.
- 2005 | San Francisco 49ers 14–31 Arizona Cardinals
- 2016 | Oakland Raiders 27–20 Houston Texans
- 2017 | New England Patriots 33–8 Oakland Raiders
- 2019 | Kansas City Chiefs 24–17 Los Angeles Chargers
- 2022 | San Francisco 49ers 38–10 Arizona Cardinals
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