Japan Is On The NFL's Radar, And The League Just Signaled It's Going Even FURTHER East

Holy cow, Seattle, did you catch the news coming out of the NFL this week? Roger Goodell and the league execs just dropped a bombshell about where the International Series is headed next, and let me tell you, it's bigger than anyone thought. We're talking about a massive global expansion, and it's not just a few games here and there. This thing is picking up serious steam, with owners already approving a jump to 10 international games every single year starting in 2027. Ten games! That's a full-on global takeover in the making.

The NFL's Global Gridiron Is Exploding

Think about it, we've already got nine international games penciled in for the 2025 schedule, which is the most we've ever seen. But that's just the warm-up act. The owners officially signed off on making it a consistent 10 games annually from 2027, and if they want to push it even further, they'll have to sit down with the NFLPA. We could even see 11 games as early as next season, thanks to the Jacksonville Jaguars negotiating their London games as a home team. We're talking about NFL football in Australia, Brazil, the United Kingdom, France, Spain, Germany, and Mexico next season. That's a world tour for our boys, and it's awesome to see.

Asia, Africa, and Beyond: Where Football Goes Next

But here's the kicker, the real "whoa" moment: Japan is now officially under consideration for future games. Peter O'Reilly, the NFL's executive vice president, spilled the beans on the 'Up & Adams' show this week, saying they've identified "markets beyond these that we think could be great." He specifically called out Australia as a "sports-crazed market" and then highlighted "markets in Asia, a market like Japan, which again, very different but is a unique culture." He also brought up Italy, where both the New Orleans Saints and Cleveland Browns already have Global Markets Program rights. This isn't just about selling jerseys, folks, this is about planting the flag for American football across the globe. And get this, O'Reilly even hinted that Africa could be a future destination. While he said nothing is "imminent" and they're not sure they're "headed to play a game in Africa in the near term," he emphasized the "groundwork" they're doing there. Nigeria, for example, is crushing it in flag football, with both their men's and women's teams qualifying for the world championships. It's a "full-circle moment" too, like the league drafting Seydou Traore last month, who graduated from the NFL's UK academy. The groundwork is being laid, piece by piece. So what's next? You gotta wonder how big this thing can get. The NFL is clearly looking to make football a truly global sport, and these moves signal a massive shift in how the league operates. It's not just about a few annual trips anymore; it's about a consistent, year-round presence that's reaching new fans from the Emerald City all the way to Tokyo. Keep your eyes peeled, Seattle, because this global game is just getting started, and the future of the NFL is looking wild.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.