National Football League Commissioner Roger Goodell has outlined possibilities for league expansion outside the United States, identifying Europe as the most probable location for future international franchises.
Goodell stated that he envisions the potential for adding two new teams to the league abroad. "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. He cited Europe as the most likely candidate due to the league's long-standing presence there and the relative ease of scheduling.
The NFL began playing regular-season games in Europe in 2007 and has since hosted 55 such games. Goodell suggested that proximity to North America, with several Eastern and Southern division teams within a seven-hour flight to locations like London, also supports Europe as a strategic choice.
While acknowledging that locations such as Australia might present complications, Goodell's focus for expansion centers on Europe. He indicated that adding a single team would disrupt the league's 32-team symmetry, thus the focus on potentially adding two.
Regarding the timeline for these developments, Goodell suggested that international expansion is not directly tied to his recently extended contract, which runs through the 2030 season. "I don't think so," he stated when asked if expansion by the end of his contract was a goal. "There was no connection to the two."
Goodell's vision is to make the NFL a global sport. He noted that the league is increasing its international game schedule, with nine games planned for the current year and a record 10 games scheduled for the upcoming year. He expressed a goal of reaching 16 regular-season international games within the next few years, potentially within four years, as a precursor to further expansion.