NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has doubled down on the league’s long-term ambition to establish a team outside the United States, telling a German outlet that international expansion is a question of when, not if.
In an interview with RTL/ntv, Goodell expressed absolute certainty about the league’s global future, saying, “At some point, there will be NFL teams outside the USA. I have no doubt that this will happen one day.”
His use of the plural “teams” is notable, as it suggests the league may be thinking beyond a single overseas franchise. That would align with logistical realities: if the NFL places one team abroad, it would likely need at least a second to minimize travel burdens for the rest of the league.
A Familiar Playbook
Major League Baseball faced a similar problem in the 1950s when it moved the New York Giants to San Francisco, keeping the Brooklyn Dodgers company on the West Coast. The NFL could follow that model with a pair of European franchises in a shared division, reducing the number of long-haul flights for both the international teams and their U.S.-based opponents.
Goodell hinted at that approach back in 2022, saying, “We’re trying to sort of see, could you have multiple locations in Europe where you could have an NFL franchise, because it would be easier as a division.”
Timeline Remains Distant
Despite his optimism, the commissioner has previously put a firm timeline on when fans might see a foreign-based team. In 2024, Goodell predicted overseas expansion would not arrive within the next decade.
“Will a franchise ever happen or a division? Maybe. But that’s beyond 10 years,” he said at the time.
That would push any actual relocation or expansion into the mid-2030s at the earliest, even as the league continues to play regular-season games in London, Munich, Frankfurt, and other international markets.
London and Germany in the Spotlight
London has long been the most frequently mentioned candidate for a future NFL franchise, given its history of hosting games and its large fan base. But Germany has also emerged as a strong contender, with several cities—including Munich and Frankfurt—proving capable of hosting sellout crowds during the NFL’s International Series.
Goodell’s remarks to a German outlet may signal that the league is seriously weighing Germany as a potential home for one of those future teams. The commissioner’s repeated references to “teams” and “multiple locations in Europe” suggest the NFL is not just exploring a single market but a broader European footprint.
For now, the NFL’s international strategy remains centered on its annual slate of games abroad, which has expanded significantly in recent years. But Goodell’s latest comments make clear that the league’s leadership sees those games as a stepping stone to something bigger.
“I have no doubt that this will happen one day,” he reiterated, leaving little room for ambiguity about the league’s ultimate goal.
Source: www.breitbart.com — https://www.breitbart.com/sports/2026/08/18/roger-goodell-vows-the-nfl-will-add-an-intl-team-its-only-a-matter-of-time/