The NFL has steadily increased its international presence, staging games across Europe and Latin America, with upcoming matchups set for Ireland, England, Germany, Spain, and Brazil.
Now, the league is exploring even more ambitious expansion – potentially bringing regular-season games to the Middle East.
Commissioner Roger Goodell recently indicated that the NFL could host up to 16 international games per season, a significant jump from the five games played in 2024 and the projected eight scheduled for 2025.
Talks of hosting a Super Bowl in London continue to gain traction, and with a multibillion-dollar media rights deal surrounding the league’s international matchups, the prospect of taking games even farther abroad seems increasingly likely.
Among those in favor of the NFL’s continued global expansion is ESPN personality Pat McAfee.
Speaking on his popular show, McAfee praised the idea of bringing NFL football to the Middle East, particularly as a way to introduce the sport to new audiences.
“I would like to be on the side of I think it’s good to help countries and everything evolve – I think it’s a good thing,” McAfee said.
“Like getting a chance to watch from afar – I’ve never been over there – what the WWE has done alongside Saudi Arabia and the Crown Prince, God bless him, and everything they have going on there for their citizens, for their entertainment, for their day-to-day, for what life is like from what it was 10-15 years ago to what it is now, I think that’s good for their society; good for their world.”
McAfee acknowledged the obvious controversy surrounding business dealings with certain governments but argued that no country is without flaws.
“Now, granted, there’s a lot of detractors to all of that. ‘You’re doing business with people that…’ If we start digging in all those things, especially in all these different countries, like I think they’re going to be able to find everywhere there’s been mistakes,” McAfee said.
“Obviously, bigger in some places than others – I get it. But watching their society evolve with the WWE and with sports and with entertainment and with us taking the game, like, I like the thought of bringing the world together and closer via sport.”
While McAfee supports the expansion for its potential to unite people through sports, he also pointed to the massive financial opportunity it presents for the league.
“I enjoy the fact that golf was being utilized as something for Saudi Arabian folks to be interested in more American sports,” McAfee continued. “I like the thought of sport bringing the world together because, ultimately, that’s what I think sports are about.
“And if the NFL is able to take their game over there and receive a huge payment, a (expletive) huge payment, I think it’s good for the world as a whole. But, yes, that number and the amount of apostrophes that’ll be on that one, I assume only goes up. Which is good for salary cap, good for the league.”
What are your thoughts on the possibility of NFL games being played in the Middle East???
