Donald Trump will become the first sitting U.S. president to attend a Super Bowl when the Kansas City Chiefs face the Philadelphia Eagles in New Orleans on Sunday.
But unlike Trump’s often confrontational approach to foreign relations, the National Football League (NFL) has a much broader global vision and is actively exploring international expansion in the coming years.
Two countries frequently targeted by Trump’s criticism—Mexico and Canada—are among the most likely candidates for a future NFL franchise.
While Toronto, which already has teams in the MLB, NBA and NHL, might seem like the obvious choice, many NFL analysts believe Mexico City is the stronger contender. Estadio Azteca has hosted five NFL games since 2005, most recently in 2022, and is currently undergoing renovations ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Its size and NFL-friendly setup give it a clear edge over Toronto, which lacks a purpose-built stadium for American football.
London leads the way
London has hosted 36 regular-season NFL games since the launch of the International Series in 2007, making it the NFL’s most established overseas market. The city boasts Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, which was specifically designed to accommodate both soccer and NFL games—a key factor in its potential for housing a full-time franchise. (Notably, the new Buffalo Bills stadium is being modeled on Tottenham’s design.)
Germany, Brazil & beyond
The NFL’s international reach has expanded rapidly in recent years:
• Germany has hosted three regular-season games since 2022, with Munich and Frankfurt both serving as host cities.
• In September 2024, São Paulo, Brazil became the first South American city to host an NFL game.
• Madrid, Spain will debut as an NFL host city in 2025.
• Melbourne, Australia is set to welcome its first-ever NFL game at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG)—a venue that holds over 100,000 spectators—in 2026. This would mark the NFL’s first expansion into the Asia-Pacific region.
• Dublin, Ireland has also been mentioned as a potential future host city.
The future
The NFL has already confirmed five international games for the 2025–26 season, with three scheduled in London, one in Madrid and one in Berlin. However, Mexico City is widely expected to return to the schedule once Estadio Azteca’s renovations are complete. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell recently stated that the league is aiming for eight international games in 2025.