NFL
NFL announces that Spain will host 2025 international game
The league confirms that the NFL International Games are heading to Real Madrid’s Santiago Bernabéu Stadium in 2025.
Today will see an end to rumors, speculation and negotiations as the confirmation that the city of Madrid, Spain, will host an official NFL game will materialise. The announcement will be made by Peter O’Reilly, the NFL’s executive vice-president of club business and league events. As part of the 2025 season, Real Madrid’s newly revamped Santiago Bernabéu in the capital will host a regular season match.
Representing Real Madrid in Las Vegas is former player and current head of media relations Emilio Butragueño, who arrived in Las Vegas yesterday ahead of the the official announcement, which will be held at the Mandalay Bay North Convention Center, where the media center for the Super Bowl is located.
“Playing a game in Madrid in 2025 highlights the continued expansion of the league’s global footprint and the accelerated ambitions to take our game to more fans around the world,” Roger Goodell, NFL Commissioner, explained on Friday.
“We are proud to partner with Real Madrid C.F., a global brand, together with the City of Madrid and Comunidad de Madrid, to bring a spectacular regular season game to Spain at the world-class Santiago Bernabéu Stadium.”
Which cities have hosted NFL International Games?
Madrid is set to join an exclusive list of cities that have hosted an official NFL game, which includes London, Mexico City, Munich and Frankfurt, with São Paulo set to join the ranks in 2025. O’Reilly is not set to make any definitive confirmation today, but it’s also expected that the city of Barcelona is in line to host a game in the not too distant future, with talks already afoot between the NFL and Barça president Joan Laporta.
The club’s Camp Nou stadium is also undergoing extensive renovation work and may be selected for an international game in 2026. The NFL plan to play five international games next season and this number will jump to nine for the following campaign, with the Catalan capital expected to be one of the selected venues.
Interest in American football has been constantly growing in Spain, a point picked up on by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell, who spoke to AS recently, the first Spanish media outlet attended by the top leader of the NFL: “They have spectacular stadiums there, which is very attractive to us too.”
The Miami Dolphins and Chicago Bears have the marketing exploitation rights in Spain and both teams are strong candidates to participate in the Madrid game in 2025, with the Dolphins set to play at ‘home’. If Barcelona stages a game in 2026, then it would be the Bears who would play a home match. The participating teams are, however, not expected to be confirmed as part of Friday’s announcement, with Spanish American football fans set to see their dream come true on the eve of the Super Bowl between the Chiefs and 49ers.