NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell indicated over the weekend that the league is open to hosting a future Super Bowl outside the United States. This controversial decision comes as the NFL continues to expand its foreign presence, having already held over 50 regular-season games overseas.
London has been the primary host for international NFL games, with more than 35 contests played in the British capital.
The league recently expanded its international roster to include Frankfurt, Germany, which hosted its first NFL game this season.
“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 announced when asked if the Super Bowl could move overseas.
“But things change,” he said. “It wouldn’t surprise me at all if that happens one day.”
The commissioner also outlined a potential plan for further international expansion. If another game is added to the regular season schedule, expanding it to 18 games, Goodell suggested the possibility of playing 16 games overseas every year.
Currently, Super Bowl host cities are confirmed through 2027. Any potential international Super Bowl would not occur before 2028 at the earliest.
The NFL’s international games have been part of the league’s attempt to grow the sport’s popularity outside the United States. While regular-season games have become a fixture of the NFL’s international approach, hosting a Super Bowl abroad would mark a significant shift in the league’s most high-profile event.