The National Football League's international series has scored a monumental victory off the field, with the NFL Network announcing unprecedented viewing figures for its 2025 slate of games played outside the United States.
Record-Breaking Audience Engagement
The 2025 NFL International Games attracted an average of 6.2 million viewers across both traditional television and digital streaming platforms. This impressive number represents a substantial 32 per cent increase compared to the audience figures for the 2024 games, signalling a massive surge in global interest for American football.
The six-game series captivated fans across Europe, with fixtures held in Dublin, three separate games in London, one in Berlin, and one in the Spanish capital, Madrid. The series demonstrated strong fan engagement throughout, but one match, in particular, stood out from the rest.
Madrid Matchup Crowned Top International Game
The clash between the Miami Dolphins and the Washington Commanders at Madrid's iconic Santiago Bernabeu Stadium proved to be the season's standout international event. The Dolphins' narrow 16-13 overtime victory against the Commanders averaged 5.9 million viewers, securing its position as the top-watched international game of the entire 2025 season.
This fixture's popularity was so significant that it earned a place among the top five most-watched international games ever broadcast on the NFL Network. The broadcast's excitement peaked dramatically towards the end, with the final 13 minutes of the game drawing an audience of over 8 million viewers.
The NFL's Continued Global Expansion
The NFL's journey to becoming a global spectacle began with the International Series in 2007, initially centred on London's Wembley Stadium until 2015. The league's footprint has expanded considerably since then, incorporating other London venues like Twickenham and the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, which has a deal to host games until 2029.
Beyond the UK, the NFL has successfully taken its product to new markets, including Brazil, Ireland, Germany, and Spain. The global tour is set to continue, with Australia scheduled to host its first-ever NFL fixture next year at the world-famous Melbourne Cricket Ground.
While rumours persist about the possibility of the Super Bowl one day being held outside the US, there are no immediate plans for such a move. The venues for the next three Super Bowls have already been confirmed, with the 2026 event at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California, the 2027 showpiece at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, and the 2028 game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia.
