The National Football League has officially confirmed a significant new multi-year partnership that will see its regular-season games continue to be hosted at one of Europe's most iconic sporting venues. The agreement ensures the NFL will return to Madrid in 2026 and for subsequent seasons, solidifying its presence in the Spanish market.
Strategic Expansion into Key European Market
While the precise length of this new arrangement and the specific teams scheduled to participate in 2026 have not been immediately disclosed, the commitment represents a strategic expansion of the league's international footprint. The Miami Dolphins, Kansas City Chiefs, and Chicago Bears currently hold marketing rights in Spain through the NFL's Global Markets Program. This initiative grants teams exclusive rights to build brand awareness and cultivate fan bases in territories outside the United States through targeted engagement, events, and commercial activities.
Building on a Successful Madrid Debut
The foundation for this extended partnership was laid last November when the NFL staged its first-ever regular-season game in Spain at the Bernabeu. That historic match saw the Miami Dolphins secure a narrow 16-13 overtime victory against the Washington Commanders before an impressive crowd of 78,610 spectators. This event marked the seventh and final international fixture of the 2025 season, setting a new record for the most games played abroad in a single year as the league accelerates its global growth strategy.
Rafa De Los Santos, the NFL's country manager for Spain, emphasised the significance of the multi-year deal, stating it "underlines our commitment to the market and enables us to continue to engage fans year-round and invest long-term in initiatives like NFL Flag and youth participation." The league has identified Spain as a crucial global market, boasting an estimated 11 million fans, and plans to intensify efforts to develop flag football programs nationwide.
Global Growth and Future International Ambitions
This Madrid agreement forms part of a broader, ambitious international schedule. Following successful inaugural games in Dublin and Berlin during 2025, alongside a return to Sao Paulo and three further fixtures in London, the NFL's global roster continues to expand. League officials have previously discussed the possibility of organising a game in Barcelona in the future, indicating further potential growth within Spain.
The league's long-term vision includes steadily increasing the number of international contests until every NFL team is guaranteed an overseas game each season. Commissioner Roger Goodell has also expressed a desire to establish a presence in Asia. Looking ahead to the current season, the schedule includes a debut in Australia, an additional game in Rio de Janeiro, a fixture in Munich, Germany, and three more in London, with promises of further announcements to come.
To date, the NFL has staged an impressive total of sixty-two regular-season games outside the United States. The list of international host cities now includes London, Berlin, Munich, Frankfurt, Madrid, Dublin, Sao Paulo, Mexico City, and Toronto, showcasing the sport's rapidly expanding international appeal.
