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NFL eyes Asia as next destination as it bolsters ties with Dublin
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell answers questions on stage during NFL Live at Whelan's pub, September 27, 2025 in Dublin, Ireland
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THE National Football League (NFL) wants to expand its slate of international games to Asia, Commissioner Roger Goodell said on Saturday without specifying any countries.
Goodell’s comment at an event in Dublin could indicate the league is ready to stage a game in the Middle East and it comes a day after announcing that Rio de Janeiro will join the list of international hosts in 2026.
The Pittsburgh Steelers and Minnesota Vikings play in Ireland’s first regular-season game — and Goodell said he has no doubt there will be more in Dublin.
Sunday’s game at Croke Park is the second of seven international games this season, and in 2026 Australia will host a regular-season game for the first time.
“I think our next step after Australia would be probably moving into Asia,” Goodell said. “That’s a continent we’d like to be playing in. We are serious about being a global sport. We would like to get to 16 games so everyone is playing one game a year internationally.”
A league spokesman declined to comment on which Asian countries the NFL is considering.
