NFL Commissioner
The commissioner’s comments follow previous statements made in July at Fanatics Fest, where he first expressed his ambition to bring competitive NFL football to the Japanese capital. While the league has a long history of international exhibition games, a regular-season fixture in Tokyo would represent a significant milestone in the NFL's global growth strategy.
Building on International Success
Goodell pointed to the recent success of the regular-season matchup between the San Francisco 49ers and the Los Angeles Rams in Melbourne, Australia, as a blueprint for future expansion. The event, which drew a crowd of 100,000 fans, provided the league with valuable insights into managing long-distance travel and logistics without compromising team performance.
The commissioner noted that the positive reception in Australia has bolstered confidence in exploring new markets. By successfully navigating the complexities of international travel, the league believes it can effectively manage the demands of a trip to Asia. This experience is expected to be instrumental as the NFL evaluates the feasibility of hosting games in regions that have previously only seen preseason action.
Expanding the Global Schedule
The NFL is currently operating under a collective bargaining agreement that permits up to 10 international regular-season games per year. For the current season, the league has scheduled nine games, including the historic inaugural regular-season contest in Paris between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the New Orleans Saints. Peter O'Reilly, the league's executive vice president of club business, international and league events, has indicated that increasing the international slate to the full 10-game capacity is under consideration for 2027.
While the NFL has not hosted a game in Japan since 2005—when the Atlanta Falcons faced the Indianapolis Colts—the country has a history with the sport, having hosted 14 preseason games dating back to 1976. As the league continues to evaluate new regions, Tokyo remains a high-priority target for the NFL's ongoing efforts to engage international fanbases.
