NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell suggests the possibility of hosting the Super Bowl outside the United States in the future, as part of the league's plans to expand its international presence.
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell has hinted at the potential for the Super Bowl to be held outside the United States in the future, as part of the league's ongoing strategy to expand its global footprint.
Speaking ahead of Sunday's game in London, Goodell expressed optimism about the sport's growth overseas and indicated that future plans could include hosting the NFL's championship game in another country.
NFL Super Bowl Could Head Overseas: Commissioner Roger Goodell Eyes International Growth
"We've always traditionally tried to play a Super Bowl in an NFL city — that was always sort of a reward for the cities that have NFL franchises," Goodell said. "But things change. It wouldn't surprise me at all if that happens one day."
The NFL has been steadily increasing its international presence in recent years, with a growing number of regular-season games being played outside the United States. Goodell outlined a plan that could include playing 16 international games every year if the regular season expands to 18 games.
NFL Super Bowl Could Head Overseas: Commissioner Roger Goodell Eyes International Growth
Determining host cities for international games will be a detailed process, Goodell said, considering a range of factors.
"Brazil was a big step for us, because we had never played in South America," Goodell said. "That was an important element for us. We're looking at other continents and other markets that we've never played in or haven't played the regular-season games, and we want to get to those."
NFL Super Bowl Could Head Overseas: Commissioner Roger Goodell Eyes International Growth
To increase the number of international games, the regular season would need to be extended by one game and the number of preseason games would need to be reduced to two.
"A lot of that depends on — can we continue to make the game safer, can we continue to modify the way we conduct the offseason as well as the training camp and as well as the season, so that these guys feel comfortable being able to play that period of time," Goodell said of the potential challenges.
There are five international games scheduled for this season, including three in London, one in Mexico City, and one in Munich, Germany. The NFL is also planning to launch an international player pathway program in 2023, which will provide opportunities for elite athletes from outside the United States to compete in the NFL.
The potential move to host the Super Bowl overseas would be a significant step in the NFL's international expansion efforts. It would bring the league's biggest game to a new global audience and further solidify the NFL's status as one of the world's most popular sports.
However, the NFL would need to overcome a number of challenges, including finding a suitable venue and addressing potential scheduling conflicts with other major sporting events.
Despite these challenges, Goodell's comments suggest that the NFL is seriously considering the possibility of hosting the Super Bowl outside the United States in the future. As the league continues to grow its international presence, it is likely that we will see more major NFL events taking place overseas in the years to come.
