The past couple of weekends, The NFL has been playing games internationally. This has become tradition since 2005, when The Cardinals and 49ers first played in Mexico City. Seeing as the NFL is a national, not international football league, this is rather odd. Here’s a look into why some football teams embark on a world tour in the midst of their season. 

While the NFL is massively influential here on home territory, its reach is far smaller internationally. Dozens of other sports, like soccer for example, take priority in other countries. These international games are an attempt to grow fanbases and notoriety in other countries, especially European ones. 

Notoriety leads to more international fans tuning in, and overall a cash boost for the organization. These games are also inherently special though, leading to far more demand and higher ticket prices. It’s sort of a cultural collaboration between something incredibly sacred to the US and something obscure to international countries. Overall, it’s a colossal win-win for the NFL. 

Currently, there are a required 4 international games each football season. We’ve had 5 in 2023: 3 in London, and 2 in Frankfurt Germany. Last year, the NFL reported that their game brought in “70.2 million euros for the city of Munich” significantly boosting the German city’s economy. 

Clearly the NFL’s strategy is working. Next May we’ll find out 2024’s lineup, but until then the NFL will play exclusively on home fields.