2025 NFL Global Games Series Overview
A Kansas City Chiefs player is tackled by a Los Angeles Chargers defender during the NFL’s 2025 kickoff game in São Paulo, Brazil, the first of seven international games in the 2025 season.
2025 International Games Schedule & Results
The 2025 NFL Global Games (International Series) features a record seven regular-season games in five countries (Brazil, Ireland, England, Germany, and Spain). These games are part of the NFL’s effort to bring American football to global fans. Below is the full slate of 2025 international games, with outcomes for games already played (as of Oct. 11, 2025):
Sept. 5, 2025 (Week 1) – Kansas City Chiefs vs. Los Angeles Chargers at Corinthians Arena, São Paulo, Brazil – Result: Chargers 27, Chiefs 21. (Season opener in Brazil)
Sept. 28, 2025 (Week 4) – Minnesota Vikings vs. Pittsburgh Steelers at Croke Park, Dublin, Ireland – Result: Steelers 24, Vikings 21. (First-ever regular-season NFL game in Ireland)
Oct. 5, 2025 (Week 5) – Minnesota Vikings vs. Cleveland Browns at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London, UK – Result: Vikings 21, Browns 17. (London’s 40th NFL game; Vikings won on a last-minute touchdown)
Oct. 12, 2025 (Week 6) – Denver Broncos vs. New York Jets at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London, UK – Scheduled (upcoming on Oct. 12 in London).
Oct. 19, 2025 (Week 7) – Los Angeles Rams vs. Jacksonville Jaguars at Wembley Stadium, London, UK – Scheduled (London’s third game of 2025).
Nov. 9, 2025 (Week 10) – Atlanta Falcons vs. Indianapolis Colts at Olympic Stadium, Berlin, Germany – Scheduled (first NFL game in Berlin).
Nov. 16, 2025 (Week 11) – Washington Commanders vs. Miami Dolphins at Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, Madrid, Spain – Scheduled (first NFL game in Spain).
Completed games: The Chargers opened the series with a 27–21 victory over the Chiefs in Brazil. In Week 4, the Steelers edged the Vikings 24–21 in Dublin, marking the NFL’s debut in Ireland. A week later in London, the Vikings bounced back to beat the Browns 21–17 with a late touchdown at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. These early games showcased exciting finishes and strong fan turnout in each international venue.
Next Game: Broncos vs. Jets in London (Oct. 12, 2025)
The next NFL Global Game is set for Sunday, Oct. 12, 2025, in London, where the Denver Broncos will face the New York Jets at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. This Week 6 matchup kicks off at 9:30 a.m. ET (2:30 p.m. local time). The Jets are the designated home team in London, continuing the tradition of teams giving up a home game to play abroad. This game will be the second of back-to-back NFL contests at Tottenham, following the Vikings-Browns game the week prior. Fans in London can expect a lively atmosphere, as the city has embraced the NFL with sellout crowds since the series began in 2007. Both the Broncos and Jets will look to gain momentum in front of the international audience, and viewers in the U.S. can catch the action in the morning due to the time difference (broadcast on NFL Network at 9:30 AM Eastern).
Purpose and History of the NFL Global Games
The NFL’s International or “Global” Games are designed to grow the sport’s popularity worldwide and engage fans beyond the United States. The league’s leadership has emphasized a “long-term commitment to global expansion” and year-round engagement in international markets. In the words of NFL executive Peter O’Reilly, these international games “underscore our collective commitment to global growth as we continue our journey to becoming a truly global sport”.
Historical background: The NFL’s push overseas began with preseason exhibition games (the American Bowl series) and NFL Europe developmental league in the 1980s-90s. The first official NFL regular-season game outside the U.S. took place in 2005, when the Arizona Cardinals faced the San Francisco 49ers in Mexico City (drawing over 100,000 fans). In 2007, the league launched the annual London series, starting with a sold-out game at Wembley Stadium between the Miami Dolphins and New York Giants. Since 2007, London has hosted NFL games every year except 2020, with the NFL steadily increasing the number of international games. The United Kingdom became the primary international hub, featuring multiple games each season in London (at Wembley and later Tottenham Stadium), and the Jacksonville Jaguars even committing to one “home” game in London annually for many years.
Over time, the NFL broadened its global reach. Mexico City was added to the regular rotation in 2016 (games at Estadio Azteca) and hosted several matchups through 2019 and 2022. Germany became a new destination in 2022, debuting in Munich, followed by games in Frankfurt in 2023. In 2025, the league expanded further – staging its first-ever games in Ireland and Spain, and its first game in Berlin (having previously played in Germany’s Munich/Frankfurt). The NFL also debuted in Brazil in 2024, returning to São Paulo in 2025 for the season opener. This year’s slate of seven international games is the most in NFL history for one season, reflecting the league’s strategy of making football a global spectacle.
Why the Global Games matter: These international fixtures serve several purposes. They allow the NFL to showcase American football to new audiences, create fan bases abroad, and test the viability of new markets. The games often feature special fan events, local entertainment (for example, a popular local artist performing at halftime in Brazil), and they generate significant local interest and tourism. Teams also benefit from increased global exposure and merchandising. Ultimately, the NFL Global Games are about building a worldwide fan community and evaluating the long-term possibility of expanding the league’s footprint internationally – possibly even laying groundwork for a future franchise abroad. So far, the response has been strong: London regularly sells out NFL games, Germany’s games have seen huge demand, and new venues like Dublin and Madrid are poised to attract enthusiastic crowds. The 2025 series, with its diverse locations and historic firsts, is a major step in the NFL’s ongoing effort to bring America’s biggest sport to fans around the globe.