NFL announces Miami Dolphins as hosts of first ever Madrid game

The NFL announced this week that its continued efforts to expand the game of American Football will reach Spain for the first time next year, with the Miami Dolphins confirmed as hosts of the inaugural Spanish NFL game at the Santiago Bernabeu in Madrid.

With this move, the NFL adds Spain to its collection of European partners with Germany and the UK, which will now host a combined five regular season games between them in 2025. Alongside an expected two games to be split between Mexico and Brazil, these fixtures form the NFL’s International Games series, an effort which has brought great success and global exposure to the sport since its introduction in 2007.

The choice of the Dolphins to host this game is not a coincidence

The choice of Spain as the next area of expansion for the game is explained by NFL executives as a ‘bridge’ between the NFL’s popularity in Europe and Latin America, with Spain providing a ‘crucial link’ in allowing the game to ride its ‘Hispanic wave’ of popularity.

The choice of the Dolphins to host this game is not a coincidence. Not only are Miami and Madrid official ‘sister cities’, but the Dolphins have one of the largest Spanish-speaking followings in the NFL and have made a concerted effort to establish themselves in Latin American markets in the past. The Dolphins are one of only two teams to hold marketing rights in Spain, and have recently expanded their marketing to the Spanish-speaking markets of Argentina, Colombia and Mexico in preparation for this game.

International NFL games often have the feel of an exhibition for supporters, with the stadium usually filled with NFL fans of all teams, not just those competing. However, this does not translate to the field, as the fixture is just as meaningful as any other for the players, forming a crucial part of their gruelling 17 game schedule before the playoffs.

Rumours are swirling that the NFL plans to announce another international expansion very soon

As the NFL continues its expansion into Europe, the predictable question surrounding the creation of an international NFL team rises again, with many questioning if London could finally receive a franchise of its own in the coming years. Despite persistent rumours of a relocation for the Jacksonville Jaguars, who have played in London every year since 2013, there are still no concrete plans to bring this vision to life, and the hype surrounding this has recently died down.

Rumours are swirling that the NFL plans to announce another international expansion very soon, this time into Ireland. If this comes to fruition, 2025 will be the second straight year where more international games have been played than ever before, showing that the NFL is truly becoming a global sport.