Goodell Highlights Global Growth of the NFL
DUBLIN – NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell stated in Dublin that convincing league teams to participate in international games is no longer a difficult task. This, on the eve of the first NFL regular season game in Ireland. During an event at a small music venue near the city center on Saturday, Goodell noted that teams have embraced the global expansion of the sport. Instead of persuading teams to participate in international events, they are now volunteering to be part of these games.Due to this acceptance, Goodell reiterated his desire for there to be 16 international games, allowing each team to participate in one per season. The NFL is preparing to hold a game in Australia in 2026. Goodell added that the next step will “probably” be to organize games in Asia. “We are serious about being a global sport,” he assured. This includes the NFL’s first regular season game in Ireland, which will be played between the Minnesota Vikings and the Pittsburgh Steelers at Croke Park on Sunday. The Steelers have strong ties to Ireland, as the Rooney family emigrated from the island, and the late Dan Rooney was the United States Ambassador to Ireland. “The Steelers pressured us a lot to come here,” Goodell commented. Art Rooney II, Steelers owner and president, who was sitting next to him on stage, smiled and added: “That’s a fair assessment.” Goodell indicated that, in most international matches, the audience is usually 90% from the host country, although he expects at least 30% of the fans at Croke Park to be from the United States. “I have no doubt that this will be incredibly successful,” Goodell said about the game in Ireland. “And I have no doubt that we will return.”“In today’s world, we must be global,” Goodell expressed. “Every time we play an international game, the fans ask for more. I really believe that our game can and will be global. Our task is to share our sport with the rest of the world.”
Roger Goodell, NFL Commissioner
