By Steve Keating
LAS VEGAS (Reuters) -The National Football League continued to push into new markets on Friday announcing it will play a first ever regular season game in Spain in 2025 at soccer side Real Madrid’s Santiago Bernabeu stadium.
After establishing an international toe-hold in Europe with regular games in London, the NFL has been aggressive in expanding the league’s global footprint.
News of a game in Spain follows an earlier announcement that the league would head to South America for the first time this September in Sao Paulo at another famous soccer ground the Corinthians Arena, home to Brazil’s Corinthians.
“Playing a game in Madrid in 2025 highlights the continued expansion of the league’s global footprint and the accelerated ambitions to take our game to more fans around the world,” said NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell in a statement.
“We are proud to partner with Real Madrid C.F., a global brand, together with the City of Madrid and Comunidad de Madrid, to bring a spectacular regular season game to Spain at the world-class Santiago Bernabeu Stadium.”
A total of 50 regular season NFL games have been played internationally so far, with Madrid becoming the fourth European city to host one after London, Munich and Frankfurt.
The game in Sao Paulo will be one of five international games next season along with three in London and one in Munich.
The NFL is poised to ramp up its international presence further in 2025 after clubs voted to approve an increase in international games from four contests to eight that year.
“The National Football League’s arrival at the Santiago Bernabeu is a major event in sport history,” said Real Madrid President Florentino Perez.
“This strategic alliance… will boost our brands globally. It will be enthusiastically welcomed by millions of people on all continents, and it is an honour to embark on this journey together.”
The announcement came as Las Vegas was preparing to host the Super Bowl on Sunday between the San Francisco 49ers and Kansas City Chiefs. The game will be available to watch in 190 countries.
Along with new venues the NFL is building a talent pipeline that will bring more international players into the league through the International Player Pathway (IPP).
This year 16 international hopefuls, including Wales winger Louis Rees-Zammit who quit rugby union to follow his American gridiron dream, were introduced to the IPP.
At the conclusion of training camp, the IPP athletes will be eligible to fill a 17th practice squad roster spot on any of the 32 teams – an additional spot reserved for an international player.
(Reporting by Anita Kobylinska in Gdansk, Steve Keating in Las Vegas. Editing by Christian Radnedge)
