Context:

In 2025, the NFL will host a record seven international games across five countries: England, Ireland, Germany, Brazil, and Spain. This expansion marks a significant increase in the league's international presence, with the Minnesota Vikings set to make history by playing back-to-back games overseas. Notable matchups include the Kansas City Chiefs facing the Los Angeles Chargers in Brazil, and the Minnesota Vikings against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Ireland, followed by a game against the Cleveland Browns in England. The Broncos, Jets, Rams, Jaguars, Falcons, Colts, Commanders, and Dolphins are also participating in this historic series. The NFL's ongoing international expansion may be laying the groundwork for a potential London-based team in the future.

Dive Deeper:

• The NFL's International Series, which began with a game between the Cardinals and 49ers in 2005, has grown steadily, with at least one game played outside the U.S. each year since 2007, except for 2020 due to COVID-19.

• In 2025, the NFL will expand its international series to include seven games, the highest number played in a single season, with games scheduled in England, Ireland, Germany, Brazil, and Spain.

• The Vikings will be the first NFL team to play back-to-back games internationally, with matches scheduled against the Steelers in Ireland and the Browns in England.

• The Chiefs, coming off a recent Super Bowl appearance, will face the Chargers in Brazil, featuring key players like Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce, while the Chargers are adapting to changes under coach Jim Harbaugh.

• The Broncos, under quarterback Bo Nix, will play the Jets in London, while the Rams, with new additions like Davante Adams, will face the Jaguars, who have been regulars in the London games since 2013.

• The Falcons will play the Colts in Germany, and the Commanders will take on the Dolphins in Spain, rounding out the NFL's ambitious international schedule for 2025.

• The NFL's push into international markets suggests a potential future expansion, possibly including a franchise based in London, as the league tests the waters with these international games.

• The NFL played its first game outside of the United States in 2005 as the Cardinals took on the 49ers. This led the league to develop an International Series, which had at least one game played outside of the U.S. each season. The International Series started in 2007, and the NFL has played at least one game outside of the US. since, expect for 2020, due to COVID-19. 

• As the International Series has progressed, the NFL has added more and more international games to the schedule. The league played five international games in 2024, with three in England, one in Brazil and one in Germany. The NFL is once again pushing the envelope, expanding its international series even further in 2025.

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• The NFL will play seven games this season internationally. This will be the most the league will play in one season, so far in its history. The league will also set a new record for the most international countries hosting a game in the same season, at five (England, Ireland, Germany, Brazil and Spain). Even more history is being made as the Vikings will become the first team to play back-to-back weeks internationally and are expected to stay in England the week between the games.

• It feels like if this experience goes well, it will be another check in the list of steps they are taking to possibly put an expansion team in London. 

• Here are the NFL's international games for 2025. 

• NFL international games 2025

  Here are the NFL's seven international games for the 2025 season. 

• Date	Game	Location	Time (ET)	TV channel
  Friday, Sept. 5 (Week 1)	TBA vs. Chargers	Corinthians Arena in São Paulo, Brazil	TBA	TBA
  Sunday, Sept. 28 (Week 4)	Vikings vs. Steelers	Croke Park, Dublin, Ireland	9:30 a.m.	NFL Network
  Sunday, Oct. 5 (Week 5)	Vikings vs. Browns	Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London, England	9:30 a.m.	NFL Network
  Sunday, Oct. 12 (Week 6)	Broncos vs. Jets	Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London, England	9:30 a.m.	NFL Network
  Sunday, Oct. 19 (Week 7)	Rams vs. Jaguars	Wembley Stadium, London, England	9:30 a.m.	NFL Network
  Sunday, Nov. 9 (Week 10)	Falcons vs. Colts	Olympic Stadium, Berlin, Germany	9:30 a.m.	NFL Network
  Sunday, Nov. 16 (Week 11)	Commanders vs. Dolphins	Santiago Bernabeu Stadium, Madrid, Spain	9:30 a.m.	NFL Network

  MORE NFL SCHEDULE RELEASE:

• • Strength of schedule for all 32 NFL teams
  • 49ers, Saints among teams with easiest schedule
  • Giants, Bears among teams with toughest schedule

  TBA vs. Chargers

  • Date: Friday, Sept. 5 (Week 1)
  • Time: TBA
  • Location: Corinthians Arena, Sao Paulo, Brazil
  This game is expected to feature the Chiefs taking on the Chargers, but that won't be confirmed until the full NFL schedule gets released on Wednesday. 

• The game in Brazil would be the first international game of the year and the second overall game of the season. The 2025 season will start on Thursday, Sept. 4, followed by this game on the 5th. Kansas City is coming off yet another Super Bowl appearance, but this most recent one ended in a loss to the Eagles. The Chiefs are likely now playing with a chip on their shoulder, and are still returning Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce, while adding offensive tackle Josh Simmons and defensive tackle Omarr Norman-Lott through the draft. Kansas City also re-signed Nick Bolton, Marquise Brown and JuJu Smith-Schuster in free agency, while adding  OT Jaylon Moore and cornerback Kristian Fulton. 

• The Chargers are entering the second year of the Jim Harbaugh era. Los Angeles went 11-6 last season, but got bounced in the first round of the playoffs by the Texans. The Chargers brought back Mike Williams in free agency, and re-vamped its running back room, signing Najee Harris and using their first round pick on North Carolina running back Omarion Hampton. Los Angeles released star linebacker Joey Bosa, and will have the tough task of replicating his production with the depth pieces they signed in free agency.

• Vikings vs. Steelers

  • Date: Sunday, Sept. 28 (Week 4)
  • Time: 9:30 a.m. ET
  • Location: Croke Park, Dublin, Ireland
  Minnesota's first of back-to-back international games will be in Ireland against Pittsburgh. The Vikings drew the short straw of being the NFL's international guinea pig this season. The good news is that Minnesota is the road team for both international games, so that means they won't have to play in two opposing team's stadiums this year, and get two neutral site games. 

• The Vikings will look a little different this season. Former quarterback Sam Darnold walked in free agency and signed with Seattle, so the Vikings will be hoping that their 2024 first-round pick J.J. McCarthy will be healthy and ready to take over. Minnesota re-signed Byron Murphy Jr., Harrison Smith and Aaron Jones to bring back impactful veteran players. The Vikings added important line pieces in offensive guard Will Fires and defensive tackle Jonathan Allen. 

• The Steelers currently don't have a starting quarterback. They technically have Mason Rudolph and Skylar Thompson on the roster, but it feels like Pittsburgh missed out on the quarterback sweepstakes and is still waiting to see what free agent quarterback Aaron Rodgers will do. The Steelers used the draft to improve on defense with the intention to stop the run better in 2025. Pittsburgh also signed cornerback Darius Slay, linebacker Malik Harrison and safety Juan Thornhill in free agency. The Steelers traded for wide receiver D.K. Metcalf, but then traded away George Pickens. 

• Vikings vs. Browns

  • Date: Sunday, Oct. 5 (Week 5)
  • Time: 9:30 a.m. ET
  • Location: Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London, England
  Minnesota's first game will be in Ireland, while the second will have to team cross the St. George's channel and head to England. We don't know what the Browns are going to look like when they appear in this game. Entering the summer, Cleveland has Joe Flacco, Kenny Pickett, Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders as the QBs on its roster. None of those options are particularly exciting, especially when you factor in the draft capital used on Gabriel and Sanders. 

• The Browns gave Myles Garrett a massive contract extension this offseason, but without other impactful moves, it feels like the franchise is hoping to pull off a quick rebuild and nab a franchise QB in the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft. 

• Broncos vs. Jets

  • Date: Sunday, Oct. 12 (Week 6)
  • Time: 9:30 a.m. ET
  • Location: Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London, England
  Denver is heading into the second-year of the Bo Nix era. He was overlooked coming out of Oregon, with many not thinking he needed to be a first-round pick. Nix helped the Broncos navigate a season where they were heavily restricted on cap due to cutting Russell Wilson in the offseason. Denver finished in third in the AFC West, but right on the heels of the Chargers, narrowly missing the playoffs. The Broncos made some slash free agent moves, signing Talanoa Hufanaga, Dre Greenlaw and Evan Engram. 

• Stop me if you head this before, the Jets are putting their faith in a quarterback they acquired in the offseason. New York signed Justin Fields to a two-year contract and he will take over under center in new head coach Aaron Glenn's first season at the helm. The Jets re-signed linebacker Jamien Sherwood, and added cornerback Brandon Stephens to help the defense improve. New York notably released Rodgers, Davante Adams and C.J. Mosley. 

• Rams vs. Jaguars

  • Date: Sunday, Oct. 19 (Week 7)
  • Time: 9:30 a.m. ET
  • Location: Wembley Stadium, London, England
  One team's trash is another team's treasure. The Jets cut Adams, but the Rams were quick to sign him. Los Angeles also traded away Cooper Kupp in a cap-saving move. The Rams added Poona Ford through free agency and re-signed Alaric Jackson in moves that hope to keep the team in win-now mode with whatever quarterback Matthew Stafford has left in the tank.

• You can't have an international series without the Jaguars playing in England. Jacksonville has played a game in London every season since 2013 (other than 2020 due to COVID-19). The Jaguars have a new head coach in Liam Coen, who at this point is known for the weird way he said "Duvall" in his introductory press conference. Jacksonville traded up with Cleveland in the 2025 NFL Draft to select utility man Travis Hunter, who intends to play both sides of the ball in the NFL. The Jags also added Patrick Mekari, Jourdan Lewis, Eric Murray and Robert Hainsey in big free agency moves. 

• Falcons vs. Colts

  • Date: Sunday, Nov. 9 (Week 10)
  • Time: 9:30 a.m. ET
  • Location: Olympic Stadium, Berlin, Germany
  This section will be updated. 

• Commanders vs. Dolphins

  • Date: Sunday, November 16 (Week 11)
  • Time: 9:30 a.m. ET
  • Location: Santiago Bernabeu Stadium, Madrid, Spain
   This section will be updated.