Big announcement for the NFL and Madrid

The NFL is clearly accelerating its international expansion strategy and confirming that Spain will play a central role in its future plans.

On Monday, the league officially announced that new regular-season games will be held in Madrid, consolidating its presence in the European market. A multi-year agreement has been reached to continue hosting games at the prestigious Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, home of Real Madrid.

Although the NFL has not yet revealed the exact duration of the agreement or which teams will take the field in Spain in 2026, the message is clear: Madrid is now a permanent destination on the league's international calendar.

The first official regular-season game held in Spain, played last November, was a resounding success. In front of an impressive crowd of 78,610 spectators, the Miami Dolphins defeated the Washington Commanders 16-13 in overtime. This game marked the seventh and final international game of the season, a historic high for the NFL.

In recent years, the league has been exploring new markets. In 2025, it made its first stops in Dublin and Berlin, while returning to São Paulo for the second consecutive year. London also remains a mainstay on the schedule with three games played on British soil.

Discussions have even taken place regarding the possibility of a game in Barcelona, proof that Spain is attracting growing interest from NFL executives.

A global vision embraced by the NFL

The long-term goal is ambitious: to gradually increase the number of international games until each team can play away every season. Commissioner Roger Goodell has reiterated that Asia is also one of the regions targeted for the next stages of this expansion.

Starting this year, the NFL will add new destinations to its global itinerary with a game in Australia, another in Rio de Janeiro, not to mention a return to Munich and three new games in London.

It should be noted that the Miami Dolphins, Kansas City Chiefs, and Chicago Bears currently hold the marketing rights for the Spanish market, which could influence future matchups in Madrid.

This content was created with the help of AI.