by Football is the most common sport in America, making the NFL very popular and profitable. Since the NFL is so popular in the states, they have decided to bring the football games internationally.
The 2023 season started with the Atlanta Falcons and Jacksonville Jaguars on October 8th in London. This year, the NFL will also bring back Germany to the mix of countries.
The NFL has played preseason games internationally since 1950 when the New York Giants faced the Canadian Football League’s Ottawa Rough Riders. There have been a total of thirteen preseason games played internationally between 1950 and 1983.
The first official NFL season game was played by the New York Giants and Miami Dolphins in 2007 in London. In 2012, the Jacksonville Jaguars agreed to play one home game in London until 2016. In 2016, the International Series continued down to Mexico City.
Between 2016 and 2019, the NFL played a total of seventeen games in the International Series. Unfortunately, because of the pandemic, in 2020 the NFL suspended the series. Quickly, they resumed the International Series in 2022 and played a total of thirty-five games in London and four in Mexico City.
There will be at least four games played internationally each season and each team will get the chance to host an international home game every eight seasons. Teams are still able to volunteer to play internationally and their off week will be when they come back to the States.
It is exciting that the American football sport is being broadcast internationally and other countries can see American teams play. With chances increasing, be on the lookout to see if your team will play internationally next!
