NFL plans permanent overseas franchise, Goodell says

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said the league expects to place a permanent franchise outside the United States, describing the move as a future landmark in its international strategy. Speaking in an interview with German broadcaster RTL/, Goodell said he has “no doubt that this will happen one day.”

The comments come as the NFL formalises and expands its overseas regular-season calendar, using international games to test markets and deepen the league’s footprint beyond its core domestic base. Officials have framed the approach as part of a broader effort to grow the fan base and develop additional revenue streams outside the United States.

NFL expands the international regular-season framework NFL Commissioner NFL expands the international regular-season framework NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell The NFL has voted to increase its international regular-season schedule to 10 games per year beginning in 2027. The change raises the previous limit, which capped the league at eight international games in a season. Alongside the higher game total, the league adjusted participation rules for clubs. It removed restrictions that had allowed teams to shield certain home games from being moved outside the United States, a shift that effectively enlarges the pool of teams eligible to be scheduled abroad. Super Bowl overseas remains tied to a local franchise Goodell also addressed speculation about taking the Super Bowl outside the United States. While the league has sought to cool expectations for any near-term plan, he linked the concept to whether the NFL first establishes a franchise in an international city.

He indicated that a local team presence would be a prerequisite before the league would consider staging its marquee event overseas. Goodell said multiple international cities could handle an event of that scale, but he emphasised that the NFL would want a franchise in place first to support logistics and to build fan engagement around the game.

Separately, the league’s executive president of club business, international, and league events, Peter O’Reilly, said in May that an international Super Bowl is “not a front-burner issue” at this time.

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell 2026 schedule ramps up overseas games ahead of 2027 Before the 2027 increase takes effect, the NFL’s 2026 schedule includes nine international games across several markets. The announced host cities include London, Munich, and Mexico City, extending the league’s pattern of returning to established venues while continuing to evaluate demand and operational readiness.

Even with the expansion to 10 games approved and the opt-out protections removed, the league has not provided key details on what a permanent international franchise would look like. The timing, the location, potential realignment implications, and the operating model have not been specified.

For now, the NFL’s position leaves a clear direction of travel but significant unknowns about execution, as the league balances growing international ambitions with the practical questions of how a full-time overseas club would function within a US-based competition.