NFL plans permanent overseas franchises, Goodell says

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said the league is working toward placing permanent franchises outside the United States, outlining a long-term strategy that would move beyond occasional overseas games.

Speaking in Germany, Goodell described the effort as an evaluation of whether the league can make full-time cross-border competition function in a practical and fair way. He said the earliest timeline discussed is far beyond the next decade, with projections pointing to the mid-2030s.

International division and multi-team placement under review

Goodell said the NFL is examining whether more than one team could be based abroad and whether creating an international division could reduce the operational complications that come with long-distance travel and scheduling.

He did not offer a firm timetable or suggest an imminent relocation. Instead, he framed the work as a feasibility study focused on solving problems that would be magnified by permanent overseas teams.

International Series set to expand in 2026

The league is using its International Series as a practical test of larger-scale overseas operations, Goodell said. For 2026, the NFL plans nine international games across multiple continents.

Those 2026 plans include first-time regular-season games in Rio de Janeiro and Melbourne. Goodell said the league’s longer-run target is to stage 16 international games per year.

Under that concept, each team would play one game abroad per season, creating a predictable annual schedule that could support more permanent structures if the model proves workable.

London cited as a leading franchise candidate

London remains the main market under discussion for a permanent team, according to Goodell. He indicated the city could support two teams, reflecting the league’s view that demand and infrastructure could sustain not just visiting events but an ongoing franchise presence.

At the same time, Goodell stressed that the blueprint is not straightforward. He highlighted competitive balance as a central issue, including the disadvantage that can come from repeated trans-Atlantic travel and the risk that scheduling burdens could fall unevenly across clubs.

Taxes, contracts, and the Super Bowl requirement Goodell also pointed to international tax complexity tied to player contracts, describing it as an area that would need detailed solutions before any permanent overseas move could be executed.

Separately, the NFL reiterated that a permanent team presence would be required before a Super Bowl could be hosted in an international market. With the franchise timeline described as mid-2030s at the earliest, that condition effectively limits the league’s marquee event from moving abroad in the near term.

For now, the league is keeping its expansion linked to controlled growth in regular-season international games while it tests travel, scheduling, and operational demands across multiple continents. Goodell’s remarks indicated that any shift from periodic international fixtures to full-time franchises will depend on whether those hurdles can be resolved to the league’s satisfaction.