The NFL will return to London in the 2025 regular season. The NFL international expansion has proven to be a huge success since it began. One place that the teams taking part in the expansion have gotten great support is London, England. This year a record amount of international games will take place and the NFL and its teams are looking forward to expanding the sports reach even more than before. With London being one of the markets showing the best interest and support, the teams are all eager to play in England this year.
How has the international expansion affected the teams that took part?
Since the concept was discussed and implemented, the sport of American football has been able to bounce back after a few disastrous years for the sports image. A certain quarterback brought the sport, and indeed America’s political problems, to the world’s attention. The kneeling controversy put the spotlight on American sport that would have a lasting effect.
So the NFL decided that something needed to be done. Hence, the international expansion. Last year in the 2024 season, the NFL allocated a total of three countries the hosting rights for regular season games. Namely England(who hosted two games), Brazil, and Germany. This year that number has grown to include Ireland and Spain. The NFL teams were allocated regions to begin marketing their brands.
São Paulo, London and Berlin were the hosting cities in 2024 and this year that number has risen. With the new additions of Dublin and Madrid, the league has noticed a remarkable surge in the sports popularity and appeal on the international sporting stage. One where they compete with much bigger sports that are watched in every corner of the globe.
What teams will play in the British capital in the 2025 season?
London will host three games this year and six teams respectively. The first game will be between the Minnesota Vikings and Cleveland Browns. The Vikings are the only team to play in both Ireland and England this year. While a certain rookie for the Browns will be hoping for some playing time, the game will be taking place on Sunday, October 5 at 9:30 a.m. ET at the Tottenham Stadium.
Next up for a game in London is the Denver Broncos and New York Jets. The game will happen in week 6 of the schedule and take place once again in the Tottenham stadium at 9:30 a.m. ET on Sunday, October 12. The New York Jets are looking forward in an attempt to leave behind the Aaron Rodgers debacle that has consumed them for so long.
The last game to take place in the city of London will be the Los Angeles Rams vs Jacksonville Jaguars. This might prove to be more of a spectacle as the game is due to happen at the iconic Wembley stadium(England’s national stadium). Kick off is at 9:30 a.m. ET of week 7 that falls on October 19. After that the show makes its way to Germany and Spain.
Will the British public embrace the sport of American football once again?
After the drama that was the 2025 NFL Draft, the teams and fans in the NFL are eager to get started. The international expansion was a masterful move on the part of the NFL. The appeal of the sport has meant a wave of new fans for the teams taking part in the international expansion. With even more cities and countries taking part this year than last, the international fans have made themselves clear, they want more of a sport that has been relatively foreign to them for the majority of their lives. And the NFL has obliged them, and us to be honest.
