Football-NFL eyes expansion in Japan as international games reach record high
The NFL is considering expanding its reach into Japan and other international markets as interest in the sport continues to grow globally, according to Brett Gosper, the league's head of Europe and Asia-Pacific. The 2026 regular season will see a record nine international games across seven countries, including Japan, up from seven in 2025.
Japan's large fan base and affinity for American sports like baseball make it an attractive market for the NFL. However, there may be challenges in certain Asian markets due to scheduling differences, with some games potentially being played at less convenient times. The NFL has previously expanded to the UK, Brazil, Spain, and Australia, with the latter hosting its first international game on September 11 in Melbourne between the San Francisco 49ers and Los Angeles Rams.
The league's goal is to become a top three favorite sport in the countries where it operates within the next decade, with a potential of 16 international games by 2030.
Written by urgent.news from Channel News Asia's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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