Goodell Confirms NFL Will Have a Team Outside the U.S.: Could Mexico Be the Destination?

Roger Goodell says an NFL franchise will eventually be based outside the United States. Mexico is a natural candidate thanks to its enormous fan base, although London and other European markets also have strong arguments.

The possibility of the NFL eventually having a franchise outside the United States is no longer simply speculation. Commissioner Roger Goodell has made it clear that he believes the league will eventually have one of its teams permanently based in another country.

"At some point, there will be NFL teams outside the United States. I have no doubt that this will happen someday," Goodell said during an interview in Germany while attending the Flag Football World Cup.

The comments immediately raise a major question: which city could become the first international home of an NFL franchise?

The NFL is rapidly expanding its international presence. During 2026, the league will play a record nine international games, with fixtures scheduled in Australia, Brazil, France, Germany, Spain, Mexico and the United Kingdom. The league has also established a path toward reaching 10 international games per season beginning in 2027.

Mexico has a strong case

Mexico is naturally among the potential candidates. The NFL estimates that the country has around 40 million fans, making it the league's largest fan market outside the United States.

The relationship between the NFL and Mexico is also well established. The league has maintained an office in Mexico City since 1998 and has hosted five regular-season games in the country. Beginning in 2026, the NFL also returned to Mexico with an agreement to stage regular-season games there for three consecutive years.

Ten NFL teams also hold commercial rights in Mexico through the league's Global Markets Program.

However, hosting games in Mexico is very different from establishing a permanent franchise. A team would require training facilities, medical infrastructure, housing for players and coaches, travel logistics, sponsorships, commercial rights and a complete structure capable of operating throughout an entire season.

London has an advantage

Although Mexico has an enormous fan base, Europe currently appears to have a stronger case.

London has nearly two decades of experience hosting NFL games, while the Jacksonville Jaguars have developed a particularly close relationship with the city. The league has spent years studying ticket sales, audiences, sponsorship opportunities and fan engagement there.

The NFL's European expansion is also accelerating. In 2026, the league expanded its presence to Madrid and Paris, while Dublin was recently added to the international map.

The biggest challenge for a European franchise would be distance. Regular travel between Europe and the United States would create a significant challenge for players, coaches and staff, particularly given the physical demands of the NFL.

The travel problem

That is where technology could become important in making a European franchise possible.

Boom Supersonic is developing the Overture aircraft, designed to reach speeds of up to Mach 1.7. Although the NFL does not currently have an official agreement with the company, league executives have reportedly followed the development of the technology with interest.

A supersonic aircraft could dramatically reduce travel times between the United States and Europe, making it easier to operate a franchise on the other side of the Atlantic.

Mexico, meanwhile, has the opposite advantage. Its geographic proximity to the United States would make travel considerably easier than it would be for a European franchise.

For now, Goodell has not confirmed that Mexico is officially being considered for an NFL team. There is also no announced plan to create or relocate a franchise to Mexico City.

What is clear is that the NFL wants to become a truly global league. Mexico has an enormous fan base and a long-standing relationship with the sport, while Europe offers a massive market and an opportunity to expand the NFL's global footprint.

The first franchise outside the United States will not necessarily go to the country with the most fans. It will likely go to the city that can demonstrate that it can support a sustainable, profitable and competitive NFL operation throughout an entire season.

Random Fact

Mexico was the first country outside the United States to host an NFL regular-season game. The game took place in 2005, when the Arizona Cardinals defeated the San Francisco 49ers 31-14 in front of more than 103,000 fans at the then-Estadio Azteca. The historic game became an important milestone in the NFL's international expansion.