{
  "id": 4000689,
  "title": "Football-NFL eyes expansion in Japan as international games reach record high",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/28/football-nfl-eyes-expansion-in-japan-as-international-games-reach",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-08-28T17:18:01.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Channel News Asia",
    "slug": "channel-news-asia",
    "url": "https://www.channelnewsasia.com/sport/football-nfl-eyes-expansion-in-japan-international-games-reach-record-high-6348486"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "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.",
  "summary": null,
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 8,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "New Straits Times",
        "title": "Juwaidi sets sights on elusive Asian Games individual medal",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/28/juwaidi-sets-sights-on-elusive-asian-games-individual-medal",
        "published": "2026-08-28T04:27:33.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "‘Find your own room’: Japan says can’t handle added Asian Games numbers",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/28/find-your-own-room-japan-says-cant-handle-added-asian-games-numbers",
        "published": "2026-08-28T04:32:41.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Channel News Asia",
        "title": "'Find your own room': Japan says can't handle added Asian Games numbers",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/28/find-your-own-room-japan-says-cant-handle-added-asian-games-numbers-3895101",
        "published": "2026-08-28T04:58:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Yahoo Sports",
        "title": "Asian Games 2026: BCCI considers sending India's second-string team to Japan over poor player facilities - report",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/28/asian-games-2026-bcci-considers-sending-indias-second-string-team-to",
        "published": "2026-08-28T10:32:53.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Malay Mail",
        "title": "‘Find your own room’: Japan says can’t handle added Asian Games numbers as cruise ship and container housing hit limits",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/28/find-your-own-room-japan-says-cant-handle-added-asian-games-numbers-3961612",
        "published": "2026-08-28T12:07:15.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Gulf News",
        "title": "India may send second-string squad for Asian Games over Japan facilities",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/28/india-may-send-second-string-squad-for-asian-games-over-japan",
        "published": "2026-08-28T13:11:52.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Korea Times",
        "title": "Asian Games organizers, OCA say accommodation secured despite entry surge",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/28/asian-games-organizers-oca-say-accommodation-secured-despite-entry",
        "published": "2026-08-28T13:37:03.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}