NFL commissioner Roger Goodell hinted at a Super Bowl one day being held outside of the USA, saying “it wouldn’t surprise me at all if that happens one day.”
Goodell has shot down the idea in the past, but he told a fan forum in London that it’s a possibility, speaking ahead of Sunday’s game between the Chicago Bears and the Jacksonville Jaguars at the Tottenham Hotspur stadium – live on Sky Sports NFL from 1.30pm (kick-off at 2.30pm).
The commissioner also signalled the league’s plans to eventually play 16 international games a season, once the regular season expands to an 18-game slate. Goodell added that he has “no doubt” that Ireland will host a game soon.
“We’ve always traditionally tried to play a Super Bowl in an NFL city – that was always sort of a reward for the cities that have NFL franchises,” Goodell said when quizzed on the possibility of the neutral-site season finale being held overseas.
“But things change. It wouldn’t surprise me at all if that happens one day.”
This season’s Super Bowl will be played in New Orleans. In 2026 and 2027 it will be held in California, firstly at San Francisco 49ers’ Levi’s Stadium, before the Los Angeles Rams’ SoFi Stadium.
As for an increase in the number of international games held overseas each season, team owners have already authorised an increase of up to eight, but Goodell said they could eventually double that number – creating a scenario where all 32 teams could play an international game each year.
“If we expand our regular season from 17 games to 18, and reduce the preseason from three to two, I could see us at the same time saying ‘every team will play an international game every year’,” Goodell said.
“If we do expand our season to an 18-and-two structure, I see us going to 16 of those games being in international markets.”
He added that the plan could include a second bye week in the schedule.
“A lot of that depends on – can we continue to make the game safer, can we continue to modify the way we conduct the offseason as well as the training camp and as well as the season, so that these guys feel comfortable being able to play that period of time,” Goodell said.
There are five international games this season, and Goodell said the league wants to increase to eight “quickly.” Dublin has been seen as the next likely host – after Madrid gets its first game in 2025.
“I have no doubt that we’re going to be playing in Ireland. I don’t know if it will be next year, but it’s coming soon,” Goodell said.
“We’re also looking at other markets in the other direction, towards Asia. There’s probably more interest than we can handle.”
Watch the Chicago Bears face the Jacksonville Jaguars at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday, live on Sky Sports NFL, with kick-off at 2.30pm; Also stream with NOW.
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