With the news that the Detroit Lions will indeed be playing a game outside of the United States next season, it got me thinking on the NFL’s desire to expand the game. The game has always been wildly popular here in the states, but even that popularity has grown exponentially over the last decade or […]
With the news that the Detroit Lions will indeed be playing a game outside of the United States next season, it got me thinking on the NFL’s desire to expand the game. The game has always been wildly popular here in the states, but even that popularity has grown exponentially over the last decade or so. If you are looking for some proof, look no further than the NFL’s interest in taking over the holiday season completely.
For instance, in year’s past, Christmas Day had belonged to the NBA for some time. The NFL kept to itself on weekends, and seemed content with owning Thanksgiving Day. However, those days are no more. Now Christmas will have three NFL games, with the Lions’ game against the Minnesota Vikings being the second game played that day. In short, the NFL seems to have adopted the mindset of, “If we want it, we are going to go ahead and take it.”
Tying into that mindset is the aforementioned international expansion. In 2025 alone, the league has hosted games in London, Brazil, Ireland, and Germany. Beyond that, certain teams have been granted marketing rights in designated countries, such as the Lions in Germany and Brazil. And if I were a betting man, I would wager that the Lions play their international game in Germany in 2026. Given the fact that their All-Pro receiver has direct ties to the country, it makes too much sense from a marketing perspective.
With all of that said, I wanted to see how you all felt about the NFL’s international expansion. Do you think it is a good thing for the game, or are you indifferent?
My answer: I am all for it. In my opinion, I think the league wants to make it so that the NFL can be compared to the Premier League in terms of global popularity. Soon enough, I think each and every team will have at least one international game per season.
And yes, I am already starting to save my coins for a potential trip to Germany next fall.
What about you? What are your thoughts on the NFL growing the game on an international level? Let us know in the comments below.
Category: General Sports
