The National Football League announced the schedule for the 2025 International Games to be held across Europe in Madrid (Spain), Dublin (Ireland), London (United Kingdom), and Berlin (Germany), as part of the competition's long-term commitment to global expansion, boosting its participation throughout the year in various international markets.
The 2025 international calendar will culminate in Madrid on Sunday, November 16 with the match between the Miami Dolphins and the Washington Commanders at the Bernabéu. It will be the first regular-season NFL game to be played in Spain's history and will be organized in collaboration with the Madrid City Council and the Community of Madrid.
The President of the Community of Madrid, Isabel Díaz Ayuso, expressed that Madrid is "a vibrant, dynamic, open region where everyone wants to come. We have the best cultural, gastronomic, heritage, and leisure offer available today. With the celebration of the first NFL game in Spain in 2025 at the best sports stadium in the world - Santiago Bernabéu -, Madrid consolidates itself as the best place for hosting major international sporting events, which will be joined in 2026 by the debut of the new Formula 1 Grand Prix."
The Mayor, José Luis Martínez-Almeida, also added that the match at the Bernabéu is "another example of the attraction capacity of our city. The NFL is one of the biggest shows in the world, and Madrid will demonstrate, once again, that it is ready to host this major sporting event followed by millions of people worldwide."
"We are delighted to welcome the Washington Commanders to Spain for our first regular-season NFL game in Madrid, an incredible global city," said NFL's Europe and Asia-Pacific Director, Brett Gosper. "This historic showdown between the Miami Dolphins and the Washington Commanders continues to show the league's commitment to the global growth of the sport, and we look forward to sharing this pivotal duel at the Bernabéu, a world-class stadium and home of Real Madrid, with fans from all over Spain and the world," he continued.
"It is an honor for us to represent the Washington DC area on the global stage of the first regular-season NFL game in Spain. Playing at the iconic Bernabéu stadium is a great opportunity to connect with new fans and share the energy of the Commanders' American football in one of the world's great sports cities. American football has a unique ability to bring people together, and we are thrilled to be part of this historic moment that brings the NFL to Madrid and Europe," highlighted Josh Harris, Managing Partner of the Commanders.
Beyond the first NFL international game in this market, the league is committed to growing the sport at all levels in Spain, attracting fans throughout the year through various partners, programs, and initiatives, including NFL Flag.
The 2025 International Games held across Europe will begin on Sunday, September 28 with the clash between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Minnesota Vikings at Croke Park in Dublin (Ireland), also the first regular-season NFL game in the country.
Next, the Vikings will travel to London to face the Cleveland Browns at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium - the only NFL stadium built outside the United States - on Sunday, October 5, with the team playing two consecutive international games. This match will also be the 40th regular-season game played in the capital.
A week later, the New York Jets will face the Denver Broncos on Sunday, October 12, also at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
The third and final game in London will see the Jacksonville Jaguars against the Los Angeles Rams at Wembley Stadium on Sunday, October 19. This will be the 14th game for the Jaguars in the capital, as part of the team's multi-year commitment to playing in the UK.
For the first time in Berlin, Germany, the Indianapolis Colts will host the Atlanta Falcons at the Olympic Stadium in Berlin on Sunday, November 9. The 2025 Berlin game is part of the NFL's commitment to playing regular-season games throughout Germany and will be the fifth regular-season game in this market, with the NFL having previously played games in Munich and Frankfurt.
Seven games will be played internationally in the 2025 season, with the Los Angeles Chargers kicking off Week 1 of these International Games on Friday, September 5 in Sao Paulo, Brazil, at the Corinthians Arena. The opponent for this game will be announced on May 14, along with the release of the full NFL schedule for 2025.
The NFL Madrid Game 2025 will also be presented by NetApp, the official global partner for intelligent data infrastructure of the NFL.