4 NFL international cities deserving of franchises

The NFL international movement is in full effect and Roger Goodell should be looking at these four cities if the league expands overseas. Roger Goodell is one of the most progressive league commissioners in terms of pushing international expansion. That’s been evident in recent years with the NFL’s commitment to more overseas matchups. MORE: Cincinnati Bengals rookie from LeBron James movie leaves NFL for acting Meanwhile, his latest comments suggest that international teams might not be far away, especially with a record nine games overseas in 2026. The NFL’s season-opener is even slated for a new destination in Melbourne, Australia when the Los Angeles Rams and San Francisco 49ers meet next month. Meanwhile, other stops in Brazil, England, France and Spain are on the docket. MORE: Roger Goodell has ‘no doubt’ there will be NFL teams outside the United States That doesn’t mean that the logistics would be easy, but that hasn’t stopped Goodell and Co. from pursuing this new dream. Here are 4 international cities deserving of franchises. 4. Madrid, Spain Spain and United States flags on the field during the playing of the national anthem before the 2025 NFL Madrid Game between the Washington Commanders and the Miami Dolphins at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images Credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect (Reuters) Spain’s becoming a more regular stop for the NFL on the international calendar. The country already features a major demand for sport with global soccer giants like Barcelona and Real Madrid. If the NFL does pursue a European division it’s pretty clear that a major Spanish city deserves consideration. 3. Munich, Germany Munich city council man Manuel Pretzl, NFL International chief operating officer Damani Leech, New England Patriots fullback Jakob Johnson.. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports Credit: USA TODAY Sports (Reuters) Germany is in a similar boat as Spain considering its growing interest in the NFL. Frankfurt and Munich have each hosted NFL games during recent seasons and have been involved in the defunct NFL Europe from years ago. The country’s sporting structure is well-equipped for another team and based on attendance numbers the NFL could do quite well there. MORE: NFL adds on its exclusive list of official sportsbooks with Fanatics deal 2. Mexico City, Mexico A Wilson official NFL Duke football with the NFL Mexico City Game logo at the NFL Draft museum at Acrisure Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images Credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect (Reuters) Goodell and Co. finish out their nine-game international schedule in 2026 with Mexico City. It’s one of the most logical destinations from a travel standpoint, but also for the country’s interest in football. Mexico is undoubtedly soccer-centric first and foremost. However, many Mexican cities also boast American football teams and NFL players have even invested in some of them. Ryan Khalil, George Kittle, Christian McCaffrey and others have invested in Osos de Monterrey, which shows the level of growth for the sport in North America. 1. London, England Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford throws the ball against the Jacksonville Jaguars in the first half during a NFL International Series game at Wembley Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images Credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect (Reuters) If Mexico is a no-brainer then the same can be said about England. The Jacksonville Jaguars make a yearly trip to the country given owner Shad Khan’s connection with Premier League side Fulham. Meanwhile, the United Kingdom is hosting more matchups than any other nation outside of America. In 2026, England is receiving three consecutive NFL games from Week 4 to Week 6. — Enjoy free coverage of the top news & trending stories with The Big Lead Newsletter —