NFL approves more international games
October 7, 2015
National Football League (NFL) owners voted on Wednesday to extend the league's international series through 2025. The NFL also gave permission for games to be scheduled outside of the United Kingdom from 2016.
Mexico, which hosted the first regular season NFL game outside of the United States in 2005, is being earmarked as a potential host for further matches. Germany is also being considered as a host, along with Brazil.
"This marks an important step in our long-term international growth," NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said. "Fans in the UK have responded incredibly well to the regular season games we have played in London since 2007. They have demanded more NFL games, and we have worked to accommodate them.
"We think it's time to expand our International Series to other countries and respond to the growing interest in our game not only in the UK, but elsewhere around the world," Goodell added.
Three games are being held this year at London's Wembley Stadium with the first, between the New York Jets and the Miami Dolphins (pictured), having taken place last weekend. It is the second year in a row that three games have been held outside of the United States.
The league will announce the schedule for the international series matches in 2016 before the end of this year.