6 international NFL landing spots, ranked
Roger Goodell is hell-bent on making international expansion his NFL legacy. It’s a topic the commissioner has spoken about year, after year, after year — all the while more and more games are scheduled overseas. This past week Goodell was asked about the possibility of permanent international expansion, i.e. having a team permanently located outside […]
Six cities across the globe have been floated as potential landing spots for the NFL in recent years. Ranking them in order of likelihood, the top three are Toronto, Mexico City, and London.
Canada's capital city, Toronto, has already been home to a separate American football league since 1958. Adding another NFL team there could serve as a feeder system, developing talent for the main league. While travel to Toronto is a non-issue, placing them in the AFC East division would create a brutal rivalry with the Buffalo Bills.
Mexico City, Mexico, has become a popular destination for NFL games due to the city's enthusiastic fan base and relatively easy access. A team in Mexico City would likely join the NFC West division, providing a natural rivalry with the Los Angeles Rams. The travel issues are minimal compared to other international locations.
England's capital, London, appears to be the least probable destination for an NFL team. While London's football infrastructure is well-established, the travel demands on both the team and its opponents would be prohibitive, especially for west coast teams. Placing a team in London would also complicate divisional structure.
Germany's Munich, famous for its sports-crazed fans, is another potential candidate. However, the logistical challenges and divisional fit make it a less likely choice compared to the other cities on the list.
Brazil's Rio de Janeiro and Australia's Melbourne present unique challenges. Brazil's socioeconomic disparities and ongoing security concerns make it difficult to guarantee player safety, while Australia's extreme climate and travel difficulties render it an impractical location for an NFL team.
Written by urgent.news from SB Nation's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
