NFL approves increase to 10 international games

NFL owners approved on Tuesday a maximum of 10 league-run international regular-season games per season, an increase from eight annually, starting as soon as 2027.

"There's a path to 10 (international games) in 2027," executive vice president of club business, international and league events Peter O'Reilly said from the NFL's spring league meeting in Orlando, Fla.

The owners also voted to take away a team's ability to protect two home games from international play. That should make it less complicated to construct the schedule.

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has said the goal is 16 international games, which could lead to at least one such game per team in a given season. The league can play as many as 10 games outside the United States, according to the collective bargaining agreement with the NFL Players Association.

The 2026 schedule has a record nine international games -- eight run by the league and one in London after an agreement between the Jacksonville Jaguars and Wembley Stadium. The Jaguars have consecutive games in London, including one as the home team, while EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville is undergoing renovations.

O'Reilly said that the exception made for nine games this season "shows the momentum and I think the support for the model we have" and he could see a future with 16 international games in one season.

The 2026 slate features games across four continents, including first-time host countries France (Paris) and Australia (Melbourne). Rio de Janeiro is a host city for the first time, while other games with be in London (three), Munich (one), Madrid (one) and Mexico City (one).

O'Reilly said that Asian markets such as Japan could be future sites, but probably not as soon as 2027.

"Our strategy is not one and done," O'Reilly said. "Our goal is to go back to those markets that we're establishing."

A Super Bowl at an international site is not a priority at this time, he said.

--Field Level Media