Full Breakdown
NFL Commissioner Signals Push for First Regular-Season Game in Japan
7/18/2026, 12:33:48 AM
Core Announcement: Japan as the Next Regular-Season Destination
During a Sportico interview at Fanatics Fest in New York, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said the league wants to stage a regular-season game in Japan, noting that the only previous NFL contests in the country were preseason “American Bowl” matchups. When asked which new market he favored, Goodell replied that he has “about 10” countries in mind, with Japan at the forefront of that list.
Background & Context: Two Decades of International Expansion
The NFL’s overseas forays began with preseason “American Bowl” games in the 1990s, including dozens of contests at the Tokyo Dome between 1989 and 2005. The modern International Series launched in 2007 with regular-season games in London and has since added venues in Mexico City, Munich, Frankfurt, Madrid and Rio de Janeiro. The 2026 season will feature a record nine regular-season games abroad, the first ever in Australia, and marks the league’s most aggressive push to grow the sport beyond North America.
Data & Statistics: 2026 International Slate and Future Targets
- Nine regular-season games scheduled for 2026 across seven countries (Australia, Brazil, France, Germany, Mexico, Spain and the United Kingdom).
- The schedule opens on Sept. 10 with the San Francisco 49ers vs. Los Angeles Rams at Melbourne Cricket Ground.
- Additional matchups include Baltimore Ravens vs. Dallas Cowboys in Rio de Janeiro (Sept. 27) and Pittsburgh Steelers vs. New Orleans Saints in Paris (Oct. 25).
- Goodell has previously said the NFL could envision 16 international games per season, though the current collective-bargaining agreement caps the league at 10 per year through 2030.
Official Statements & Responses
Goodell emphasized that the league “doesn’t take international expansion off the table” and sees a regular-season Japan game as “very possible someday.” NFL vice-president Peter O’Reilly added that the league has “identified markets beyond these that we think would be great,” citing Australia’s sports-crazed fan base and Japan’s “unique culture.” He also referenced the Global Markets Program, which grants the New Orleans Saints and Cleveland Browns marketing rights in Italy, illustrating the league’s broader strategy to secure footholds in new regions.
Criticism & Opposition
Fans on social media expressed frustration, arguing that additional overseas games could “rob” domestic supporters of home-team matchups and force broadcasts into “2 a.m. EST” slots. Player and coach groups have raised concerns about the physical toll of trans-oceanic travel—e.g., a 16-hour flight to Melbourne and an 11-hour trip to Tokyo—potentially affecting performance and injury risk.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
No official date, opponent or venue has been confirmed for a Tokyo regular-season game, and Goodell did not disclose the other nine markets on his shortlist. Consequently, the timeline for a Japan matchup remains speculative.
Verbatim Quotes
- “We did have a game in Tokyo, but it was a preseason game. So, we want to do a regular-season game now,” — Roger Goodell, NFL commissioner
- “I got about 10.” — Roger Goodell, NFL commissioner
- “ "I don't take international expansion off the table," Goodell said during an interview with Westwood One.” — Roger Goodell, NFL commissioner
- “I think that's very possible someday.” — Roger Goodell, NFL commissioner
- “We've identified markets beyond these that we think would be great,” — Peter O’Reilly, NFL vice president
What’s Next
Goodell indicated that a future NFL franchise could eventually be based outside the United States, a step that would likely precede an international Super Bowl. For now, the league will proceed with the 2026 international slate while negotiations with the NFL Players Association determine whether the current 10-game cap can be expanded to accommodate additional markets such as Japan.
