The NFL’s push to play international games could include a plan for a Super Bowl soon enough.
Commissioner Roger Goodell, who formally was opposed to the idea, teased the possibility of the league’s first Super Bowl outside the U.S. on Saturday in front of a fan forum in London.
“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,” he said when answering a question about moving the neutral-site game. “But things change. It wouldn’t surprise me at all if that happens one day.”
The plan could come into fruition as soon as 2028, as the Super Bowl sites are booked up until then.
This season’s big game will be played in New Orleans, followed by Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California in 2026, and SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California in 2027.
Before the 2024 season, there had been 50 regular-season international games in the league’s history.
London has been the most popular with 36 games, followed by Toronto (6), Mexico City (5), Munich (2), and Frankfurt (1).
This season, the Eagles and Packers opened with an international game in Brazil on Sept. 6 where Philadelphia came away with the 34-29 victory.
It was the NFL’s first-ever regular season game in South America and it drew over 45,000 fans in São Paulo.
Including Brazil, five international games will be played in the 2024 season.
In Week 5, the Jets lost to the Vikings in London, 23-17, which ended up being the last Jets game coached by Robert Saleh, who has been replaced by interim head coach Jeff Ulbrich.
London will also host the Bears and Jaguars in Week 6, along with the Patriots and Jaguars in Week 7. The final international game of the season will take place in Munich between the Giants and Panthers in Week 10.
If the NFL’s regular season expands to 18 games, Goodell said he outlined a plan that could include playing 16 international games every year.
He said there is “no doubt” that Ireland will eventually host a game as well as Rio de Janeiro to be a host city.
