The National Football League (NFL) continues its global ascension with regular season football heading to Ireland in 2025 and Australia in 2026.
Dublin joins growing international markets to host games in 2025
In a news conference on Feb. 7 during Super Bowl week, the NFL announced their plan to host a regular season game in Ireland during the 2025 season.
“We are delighted to officially bring a regular season NFL game to Ireland as part of our 2025 International Games slate,” said NFL Executive Vice President of International League Events and Club Business, Peter O’Reilly. “We’re looking forward to making our regular season debut in Dublin, bringing our game to a large and passionate Irish fan base and underlining the NFL’s commitment to global growth.”
The NFL Dublin game is one of seven confirmed international games on the calendar for 2025 and the second time the NFL will play in Dublin.
As part of the American Bowl Series in 1997, Ireland housed a preseason matchup between the Chicago Bears and Pittsburgh Steelers at Croke Park, which will also serve as the venue for the 2025 game.
With the Steelers’ connection to Ireland through Dan M. Rooney — the father of Pittsburgh President Art Rooney II, who served as a U.S. ambassador to Ireland from 2009 to 2012 — the Steelers have been selected as the designated team for the occasion and will battle a yet-to-be-determined opponent.
“We are very excited to be the designated team in the first regular season game to be played in Ireland this upcoming season,” said Rooney II. “The opportunity for the Pittsburgh Steelers to play in Ireland is truly special, not only because of the Rooney family history there, but also to play in front of the growing number of Steelers fans in Ireland.”
Along with Dublin, the other markets and designated teams that will play an international NFL regular season game in 2025 include three games in London (Cleveland Browns, New York Jets, Jacksonville Jaguars) as well as a game in each Berlin (Indianapolis Colts), Madrid (Miami Dolphins) and São Paulo (Los Angeles Chargers).
All matchups and dates for the 2025 NFL International Games will be announced when the NFL’s schedule is released in the spring.
Melbourne becomes first city added to 2026 NFL International Games schedule
The NFL took the first step in confirming the 2026 NFL International Games slate by announcing the inaugural regular season game in Australia in a news release on Feb. 5.
“Expanding to Melbourne, Australia, a beautiful city with a rich sports history, underlines our ambitions to become a global sport and accelerate international growth,” said NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell. “We look forward to making history in what is an important market for the NFL and a significant next step in expanding our international footprint.”
Like Dublin, Australia hosted a preseason game during the 1999 American Bowl Series between the Denver Broncos and San Diego Chargers in Sydney.
For 2026, the Los Angeles Rams have been named the designated team due to their ties to Australia through the NFL’s Global Markets Program.
The Rams are one of two teams alongside the Philadelphia Eagles to be awarded international marketing rights in Australia from the NFL, as a way to expand their global footprint while growing the game of football abroad.
“When we first identified Australia as one of our global markets, it was not only because of our passionate fans who reside there, but also because of the important role Los Angeles plays in serving as a gateway to Australia and many countries across the Pacific,” said Rams Owner/Chairman E. Stanley Kroenke. “Today is an exciting day for Rams fans across the world, especially in Australia.”
The game at Melbourne Cricket Ground is the first of a potential eight international games that the NFL plans to announce for the 2026 season.
To date, there have been a total of 55 international regular season games played between Frankfurt, London, Mexico City, Munich, São Paulo and Toronto, with the number of games and markets hosting regular season football set to grow in the seasons ahead.
For more information on the NFL International Games, visit nfl.com.