As the NFL’s international expansion continues to flourish, Munich prepares to host its latest showdown between the New York Giants and Carolina Panthers.
The Week 10 game marks the season’s final international matchup, building on the momentum from three games in Germany in prior seasons.
During a Q-and-A session with fans in Munich, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell dropped a hint about the league’s future plans.
Confronted with rumors about Berlin joining the rotation of German host cities, Goodell broke from his usual stance on speculation.
“I usually tell people, ‘Don’t believe rumors,’” the commissioner said, via Adam Schefter of ESPN. “But this time, I might say, ‘Believe it.’”
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said the NFL is working “very hard” on bringing a regular-season game to Berlin.https://t.co/7WZUvbv46N
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) November 9, 2024
Goodell’s enthusiasm for Berlin was evident as he elaborated:
“We’re working on it, but it’s not finalized just yet,” Goodell said. “We definitely see Berlin as a great fit, and we’re really focused on making it happen. Our team is working hard on it. That said, it doesn’t mean we won’t be back in Frankfurt and Munich.”
The potential addition of Berlin comes as a surprise to many, as the city wasn’t part of the original bidding process.
In 2021, Frankfurt, Munich and Dusseldorf emerged as the finalists, with Dusseldorf still waiting for its turn in the NFL spotlight.
According to Schefter, Goodell reminisced about his involvement in the NFL’s first German exhibition game in 1990, staged at the Olympiastadion shortly after the fall of the Berlin Wall.
That historic clash featured the Los Angeles Rams and Kansas City Chiefs.
With NFL owners recently approving an increase to eight international games per season, Goodell’s vision extends even further, eyeing an ambitious target of 16 games abroad.
As Germany’s love affair with American football deepens, the addition of Berlin could mark another significant milestone in the NFL’s global journey.
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