Japan and Africa: The NFL's Next Big Move No One In America Is Talking About

Alright 12s, buckle up, because the NFL is about to drop a bombshell that could reshape the league's global footprint. Honestly, it's wild. Commissioner Roger Goodell and his crew aren't thinking about more games in London or Mexico City anymore. Nah, they're setting their sights on markets so far-flung, so unexpected, it's got to make you wonder: how big can this thing actually get? We're talking NFL football in places like Japan and even Africa! Seriously, did anyone see that coming?

The Global Takeover Is REAL, And It's Expanding FAST

Forget the old days when an international game felt like a novelty. That era is GONE. The NFL's International Series is blowing up, folks. We're already set for nine international games in 2025, which is the most ever for the league. And guess what? The owners approved the increase this Tuesday to bump that number up to 10 games every single year starting in 2027. Ten games! That's a huge chunk of the schedule crossing oceans. And if the Jacksonville Jaguars work their magic with their London-based games, we could even see 11 international matchups next season. Talk about a global takeover! Next season, our guys will be playing in Australia, Brazil, the United Kingdom, France, Spain, Germany, and Mexico. That's a lineup covering pretty much every corner of the map.

Beyond the Obvious: Asia and Africa Are On The Radar

But here's where it gets truly wild. The league isn't stopping with the usual suspects. NFL executive vice president Peter O’Reilly spilled the beans on the 'Up & Adams' show this week, saying, "We’ve identified markets beyond these that we think could be great." He called out Australia as "obviously a sports-crazed market." But then he dropped the real stunner, pointing to "parts of the world we haven’t played a game and don’t have a year-round presence." That includes Asia, with "a market like Japan, which again, very different but is a unique culture." Japan! Can you even picture an NFL game in Tokyo? The league is also looking at Italy, where the New Orleans Saints and Cleveland Browns already have Global Markets Program rights. And then there's Africa. O'Reilly acknowledged that while nothing is "imminent" for games in the "near term," the league is doing a ton of groundwork there. He highlighted Nigeria's impressive success in men’s and women’s flag football, which qualified for the world championships. He even called the Miami Dolphins drafting Seydou Traore, a UK academy grad, a "full-circle moment." It just shows you how deep they're thinking. So, what does all this mean for the greatest sport on Earth? It means the NFL isn't only America's game anymore. It's truly becoming a world phenomenon, year after year. The league is charting a course for unprecedented global reach, and as fans, we get to witness it expand into uncharted territory. It's gonna be a wild ride watching this unfold, and you know Seattle On Tap will be here for every single step of the journey. Get ready, the world is about to get a whole lot more football!

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