Goodell Sees NFL Bringing Regular-season Game to Tokyo by 2028
WHO:
NBC Sports - Roger Goodell is the NFL commissioner.
NBC Sports - Goodell spoke with Gregg Rosenthal and Jourdan Rodrigue on *NFL Daily*.
NBC Sports - The NFL is looking to foreign markets to support its continued growth.
WHAT:
Yahoo Sports - The NFL has never played a regular-season game in Japan; it hosted 14 preseason games there from 1976 to 2005, including 13 in Tokyo and one in Osaka.
Yahoo Sports - The NFL would like to increase its international schedule to 16 games per season. Owners approved playing up to 10 games outside the United States in 2027.
Yahoo Sports - Five international games are scheduled for 2027, with Berlin, Mexico City and London hosting; London is scheduled for three games.
Yahoo Sports - The New Orleans Saints and Pittsburgh Steelers are scheduled to play the sixth international game on the 2026 schedule in Paris. Three more international games that season are scheduled for Madrid, Munich and Mexico City.
NY Post - The NFL is planning to expand its international schedule to include Tokyo.
NBC Sports - Goodell said the NFL expects to hold its first regular-season game in Japan in 2027 or 2028.
NBC Sports - Goodell said, “Tokyo is clearly on our list, whether it’s next year or the year after. It’s coming at some point in the near future.”
NBC Sports - Goodell said the NFL will continue to focus on priority markets where it has already played, while also considering other cities.
NBC Sports - Goodell said the NFL played in Rio rather than São Paulo that year.
NBC Sports - Goodell said an NFL game in Australia during Week 1 drew 100,000 people to the stadium.
NBC Sports - Goodell described the Australia game as “an incredible feeling” and said it had “opened up new opportunities” for the league.
NBC Sports - Goodell said, “We’re planning on playing global. That’s where we’re going.”
WHERE:
NBC Sports - Goodell made the comments while in Paris, where the NFL was preparing to play its first game.
NBC Sports - The proposed Japan game would be played in Tokyo.
NBC Sports - The league’s other mentioned international locations were Australia, Rio, and São Paulo.
NY Post - The NFL’s international expansion would extend to another continent.
WHEN:
Yahoo Sports - The NFL played its 14 preseason games in Japan between 1976 and 2005.
NBC Sports - Goodell identified 2027 or 2028 as the expected window for the first regular-season game in Japan.
NBC Sports - The Australia game took place during Week 1 and began at 10:30 on a Friday morning, according to Goodell.
WHY:
NBC Sports - Goodell said the NFL views overseas markets as important to its continued growth.
NBC Sports - Goodell said the Australia game demonstrated that the league can play anywhere in the world.
NBC Sports - Goodell said the league believes international travel can be managed without negatively affecting teams.
HOW:
Yahoo Sports - The Los Angeles Rams have marketing rights in Japan through the NFL’s Global Markets Program.
NBC Sports - Goodell said the NFL learns from each international game and uses those experiences to pursue additional opportunities.
NY Post - The NFL’s international schedule is set to include nine games in 2026.
The NFL is planning to bring its first regular-season game to Japan, with Commissioner Roger Goodell saying it could happen in 2027 or 2028. Speaking in Paris, Goodell told Gregg Rosenthal and Jourdan Rodrigue that Tokyo is on the league’s list as it looks overseas for continued growth. The NFL has never played a regular-season game in Japan, though it held 14 preseason games there between 1976 and 2005. The league wants to expand its international schedule to 16 games per season, and owners have approved up to 10 games abroad in 2027. Five international games are scheduled for that year, including three in London, as well as games in Berlin and Mexico City. The 2026 schedule includes nine international games, with Paris, Madrid, Munich and Mexico City among the locations. Goodell also pointed to an Australia game that drew 100,000 fans, saying those experiences open new opportunities.