NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said the league is moving toward placing a franchise outside the United States, telling viewers before Thursday night's game between the Buffalo Bills and Detroit Lions that international expansion is a matter of when, not if. «I think if we continue to grow, continue to get the kind of reaction, I do think a franchise will be international at some point in time,» Goodell said on Prime's pregame show.
Goodell identified Europe as the leading candidate, citing the league's long history of playing there and the practical advantages of scheduling. The NFL began staging regular-season games in Europe in 2007 and has played 55 such games on the continent. Most teams in the AFC East and NFC East, along with some clubs in the AFC South and NFC South, sit within a seven-hour flight of London, a factor that would ease travel demands for a European-based team.
Other markets appear less viable in the near term. Goodell acknowledged that Australia, where the league has scheduled games and plans to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks at its stadiums and in the country, «might create a few complications for us.» The commissioner's comments came during a stretch of travel that spanned continents and included Thursday night's opening of the new Highmark Stadium in Buffalo.
Goodell also suggested the league would not stop at a single European club. Adding one team would disrupt the NFL's 32-team symmetry, and he indicated the support exists for a larger footprint. «I also believe we could have more than one team, which I think, ultimately, the support is there,» he said. «Two more teams.»
On timing, Goodell pushed back against speculation that international expansion is tied to his new contract, which runs through the 2030 season. Asked whether his goal is to have a team abroad by the time the deal expires, he said, «I don't think so. There was no connection to the two.» He described the broader ambition as making football a global sport. «Our vision here is to make it a global sport,» he said. «The NFL deserves to be, it's a great game, and we all believe in it passionately.»
While expansion by 2030 is not a stated target, a full season's worth of international games is firmly on the commissioner's radar. The NFL is playing nine games abroad this year, and that number will rise to a record 10 next season. Goodell said the league's next milestone is reaching 16 regular-season international games. «When we get to that point, then we'll be looking for the next stage to grow,» he said. «But we think we'll be there in a few years. That may happen within four years.»
The comments offer the clearest picture yet of how the league views its overseas future. Europe's established fan base, the concentration of teams within a manageable flight radius and the scheduling flexibility Goodell described all point in the same direction. For now, the plan centers on expanding the international slate before any franchise relocation or addition, with the commissioner framing both tracks as part of a long-term effort to grow the sport beyond American borders.