The NFL’s push to expand its global footprint has gained significant momentum in recent years.
What began as a handful of international games has now turned into a full-fledged initiative, with the league staging regular-season matchups across multiple continents.
In 2024 alone, games were played in the United Kingdom, Germany, and Brazil, with Spain, Australia, and Ireland set to join the mix in the coming years.
Mexico and Canada have also hosted NFL games in the past. However, while the league has taken both preseason and regular-season contests abroad, one thing it has never done is host a playoff game or a Super Bowl outside the United States.
That, according to ESPN’s Don Van Natta Jr., will soon change…
During an appearance on The Varsity podcast, the Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist made a bold prediction: The Super Bowl is heading to London – possibly within the next decade.
“We know the Jaguars play every year in London; I wouldn’t be surprised if that’s the team that ends up there in a few years,” he said.
“And the reward for that will be there will be a Super Bowl in London. I think you can book it sometime in the next five to seven years.”
While the thought of America’s biggest sporting event taking place on foreign soil may seem unthinkable to some, it’s hardly without precedent.
Other sports leagues have staged major championship events internationally.
Soccer’s UEFA Champions League final is held in a different country each year, and domestic cup finals have been hosted outside their home nations.
Of course, this is an apples-to-oranges debate since football is an American game while soccer is a global sport.
However, Commissioner Roger Goodell has openly discussed the league’s long-term goal of building a sustainable international presence.
In 2022, he acknowledged that there is “potential” for a Super Bowl outside of the U.S., but noted that it would only happen once a strong, established market exists overseas.
That market may already be forming in London. The Jacksonville Jaguars have played games in the U.K. annually for over a decade, effectively turning Wembley Stadium into their home away from home.
Their owner, Shahid Khan, also owns Premier League club Fulham, further fueling speculation that the Jaguars could one day relocate permanently.
If that happens, it would mark a pivotal moment in NFL history – one that could pave the way for a Super Bowl in London.
For the NFL, hosting a Super Bowl abroad isn’t just about expansion – it’s about turning the event into a truly global spectacle.
Of course, there are many fans who are against the idea of globalizing football … Where do you stand on the issue???
