Vikings International Schedule Makes NFL History

Former Minnesota Vikings tight end Stu Voigt announces the team’s selection with the 102nd overall pick during the third round of the 2025 NFL Draft on Friday, April 25, 2025, at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The draft runs through April 26. Tork Mason/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin

The Minnesota Vikings are about to do something no NFL team has ever done before—play back-to-back international games in two different countries during the 2025 regular season, and it’s got fans buzzing with excitement. Fresh off a stellar 2024 campaign where they won 14 games and made a strong playoff push in the NFC, the Vikings are looking to carry that momentum across the pond—twice in a row.

First up, the Vikings will head to Dublin to face the Pittsburgh Steelers on September 28, kicking off at 8:30 AM CT, as shown in the schedule details. Then, without a breather, they’ll travel to London the very next week to take on the Cleveland Browns on October 5, also at 8:30 AM CT, both games airing on NFL Network. That’s two straight weeks of international play, racking up some serious air miles and testing the team’s endurance in a way we’ve never seen before in the NFL. It’s a historic moment for the league, and Minnesota is right at the center of it.

This isn’t just a random scheduling quirk—it’s part of the NFL’s big push to grow its global footprint. Commissioner Roger Goodell has been vocal about wanting more games played internationally, even floating the idea of a Super Bowl in another country someday. And you can see why: the NFL’s popularity overseas is skyrocketing. Recent games in London have drawn massive crowds, and the league is banking on that energy again in 2025 with three games slated for the city. Alongside the Vikings-Browns matchup, the Jacksonville Jaguars will face the Los Angeles Rams, and the New York Jets will take on the Denver Broncos, all in London.

The Vikings aren’t the only ones going global this season. The NFL has games scheduled in Spain, Germany, and Brazil, too. On November 16, the Washington Commanders will play the Miami Dolphins in Spain, while the Atlanta Falcons meet the Indianapolis Colts in Berlin. The Los Angeles Chargers are set for a game in Brazil on September 5, with their opponent to be announced tomorrow, per the NFL. The Vikings, though, stand alone as the only team playing two international games, making their 2025 schedule a true test of adaptability.

Minnesota’s roster, led by stars like Justin Jefferson and quarterback J.J. McCarthy, is coming off a season where they proved they can compete with the best. Now, they’ll have to channel that grit on an international stage, navigating jet lag, new environments, and the physical toll of travel—all while facing tough opponents like the Steelers and Browns. The NFL is already looking ahead, with plans for a 2026 game in Australia, showing this global trend isn’t slowing down anytime soon. For Vikings fans, this is a chance to see their team make history while taking on a challenge unlike any other in the league. It’s going to be a wild ride, and you can bet the Purple Faithful will be cheering every step of the way.