The NFL commissioner reveals the league’s global ambitions, including spreading American football to new continents
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has his sights set far beyond American borders, he made it clear the league is preparing for a major international expansion-one that could soon include playing games in Asia for the first time in NFL history.
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Speaking during a recent appearance on The Pat McAfee Show, Goodell emphasized that the league’s approach is not about short-term spectacle. It’s about creating lasting roots in global markets.
“We’re not looking to be a circus when we go in,” Goodell said. “We want to be there, we want to put roots in, we want to start getting kids playing flag or tackle football, we want to have engagement all year round, which means media coverage year-round.
“We want our sponsors and partners active through the year. We’re looking to build this over the long term.”
Rather than just host games abroad, Goodell’s vision includes growing youth participation, strengthening media presence, and ensuring NFL sponsors are visible throughout the year in these emerging markets.
According to Goodell, the NFL could soon reach the milestone of 16 international games per season.
Some cities might host more than one game each year, as is currently the case in London, while new markets will also come online. Germany, which recently hosted wildly successful games in Munich and Frankfurt, was cited as a major bright spot for the league.
“We had a great experience in Brazil last year,” Goodell added, pointing to South America’s growing enthusiasm for American football.
The commissioner also confirmed that Mexico remains a priority, though the league will wait until renovations at Estadio Azteca-being updated for the 2026 FIFA World Cup-are complete before returning.
Asia represents the next frontier. Although Goodell did not confirm a specific country or timeline, he was optimistic: “I think we’ll get to Asia pretty soon. I think we can get worldwide with our games.”
Expanding into Asia would be a groundbreaking step, and there are early signs of interest. Japan previously hosted American Bowl preseason games, and there has been speculation about China or South Korea becoming future NFL destinations.
Goodell’s confidence in the NFL’s global appeal remains unwavering: “I’m confident our game is so great that we can be popular on a global basis,” he said.
With multiple continents already hosting games and more markets soon to join, the NFL’s transformation from an American tradition to a global phenomenon is accelerating-and Roger Goodell seems determined to make it happen sooner rather than later.
