NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said this week that he expects a franchise to be based outside the United States at some point, with Europe as the most likely destination.
Goodell made the comments ahead of Thursday night’s season-opening game between the Buffalo Bills and the Detroit Lions at the new Highmark Stadium in Buffalo, speaking on Prime’s pregame show.
“I think if we continue to grow, continue to get the kind of reaction, I do think a franchise will be international at some point in time,” Goodell said. “I think Europe is the most likely [place], for a lot of reasons. One, the length of time we’ve been playing there. But also, the scheduling is going to be a lot easier.”
The league has staged regular-season games in Europe since 2007, with 55 games played there to date. Several teams in the AFC East, NFC East, AFC South and NFC South already sit within roughly a seven-hour flight of London, which Goodell says makes European expansion far simpler logistically than other options.
Australia is a different story. “Australia might create a few complications for us,” Goodell admitted.
Goodell also indicated he is not thinking small. To preserve the league’s 32-team symmetry, he suggested Europe could ultimately host two franchises rather than one.
“I also believe we could have more than one team, which I think, ultimately, the support is there,” Goodell said. “Two more teams.”
No Fixed Deadline, But a Target for Full International Schedule
Goodell recently signed a contract extension keeping him as commissioner through the 2030 season, fueling speculation that international expansion was tied to that timeline. He shot that down.
“I don’t think so,” Goodell said on Netflix’s pregame broadcast recently. “There was no connection to the two. You know, listen, our vision here is to make it a global sport. The NFL deserves to be, it’s a great game, and we all believe in it passionately.”
Expansion by 2030 isn’t the goal, but growing the international game schedule is. The NFL is playing nine games abroad this season, rising to a record 10 next year. Goodell said the league’s near-term target is 16 international regular-season games — a full slate.
“I think our work here will be to get to 16 regular-season [International] games,” Goodell said. “When we get to that point, then we’ll be looking for the next, you know, stage to grow. But we think we’ll be there in a few years. That may happen within four years.”
