NFL Selects Miami Dolphins for First Game in Spain
Event will take place at Real Madrid's Bernabéu Stadium
Posted On: January 17, 2025 By :The National Football League has announced that the Miami Dolphins will play as the designated team in the first-ever regular season game in Spain, as part of the 2025 International Games.
The 2025 NFL Madrid game will take place at Bernabéu Stadium, home to La Liga’s Real Madrid in partnership with the city of Madrid and Comunidad de Madrid.
“The exciting first-ever game in Spain underlines the NFL’s continued commitment to expanding its global footprint and reaching new audiences across the world,” said Head of Europe and APAC at the NFL Brett Gosper. “The Miami Dolphins playing at the Bernabéu Stadium, home to Real Madrid C.F., showcases the global appeal of the league and of our sport, in what promises to be a historic moment.”
Beginning in 2025, the NFL can schedule up to eight league-operated regular season games internationally. Fifty-five regular-season games have been played around the world in league history, with London hosting 39 of those. The Dolphins, alongside the Chicago Bears, hold marketing rights in Spain as part of the league’s Global Markets Program.
“We are thrilled to play the NFL’s inaugural game in Spain, a country of rich history, tradition and passion and home to a vibrant Dolphins fanbase,” said Miami Dolphins Vice Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer Tom Garfinkel. “With the unique synergy between Miami and Madrid, we believe this is only the beginning for us in this incredible region and we look forward to bringing the excitement and community of Dolphins football to Spain in 2025 and beyond.”
The league recently announced that the Indianapolis Colts will play as the designated home team in the first-ever NFL regular season game in Berlin. The Berlin game will take place at the Olympic Stadium as part of a commitment to playing games in the German capital.
The Colts’ opponent, along with game date and kickoff time, will be announced when the full 2025 NFL schedule is revealed this spring. The Colts have played in two regular season games internationally, one in London and one in Frankfurt.
“Germany is an important market for the NFL, with continued growth in fandom and passion for the game,” said NFL Germany General Manager Alexander Steinforth. “After four successful international games in-market across Munich and Frankfurt, we’re thrilled to have the Colts as the designated team for our first-ever regular season game in Berlin in 2025 — a city that holds so much football history and is a true testament to the international expansion and growth of the league.”
The NFL played five American Bowl games at the Olympic Stadium between 1990 and 1994 and it was also home to NFL Europe’s Berlin Thunder from 2003-07. The Colts were granted marketing rights in Germany last April, as part of the league’s Global Markets Program.
The Berlin announcement came days after the NFL revealed that Cleveland, Jacksonville and the New York Jets each will play a home game in London in 2025. Tottenham Hotspur Stadium will host games featuring both the Jets and the Browns. The Jaguars will return to Wembley Stadium as part of their multi-year commitment to playing a game in the United Kingdom, in what will be their 14th game in London.
The Jets have played four regular season games internationally, including three in London and one in Toronto. The Browns have also played in one regular season game in London. The Jets and the Jaguars hold marketing rights in the U.K. as part of the league’s Global Markets Program, which awards NFL teams international regions to build brand awareness and fandom beyond the United States.
“We look forward to welcoming the Jets, Browns and Jaguars to London as part of the 2025 NFL International Games,” said NFL U.K. and Ireland General Manager Henry Hodgson. “This season will see us surpass 40 regular season games in the capital, a testament to the role the U.K. has played in growing the game globally. The London games are a continued catalyst for year-round fan engagement, and we are focused on serving our 15 million fans, reaching new communities and driving growth in flag football participation, which now sees over 100,000 young people play the game.”
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