Roger Goodell reveals NFL is 'very near' to having 16 international games a year

Roger Goodell is confident that there will be nearly a full season of NFL international games soon. While speaking with CNBC’s Scott Wapner, the NFL commissioner said having 16 international games per year is likely going to happen.

“I do see 16 regular season games, and I do think that will happen in the very near future,” Goodell said. “Within five years, probably.” Roger Goodell added that there is more room for growth in other countries despite the NFL being widely popular in the United States.

“International is an open market for us,” Goodell explained. “We are excited about our potential.” This year, seven NFL international games will be played across Europe in Dublin, Ireland, London, U.K., Berlin, Germany and Madrid, Spain. There will be three games played in London, one in Dublin, one in Madrid, one in Berlin, and one in  São Paulo, which will be the first international game of the year (Sept. 5). The  São Paulo game will feature the Los Angeles Chargers and Kansas City Chiefs and will stream exclusively on YouTube.

Will more NFL international games mean an 18-game schedule?

“The 2025 NFL season will see seven regular season games played outside of the U.S. — the most ever regular season international games to date, including historic first games in iconic venues in Berlin, Dublin and Madrid,” NFL Executive Vice President, Club Business, Major Events & International Peter O’Reilly said in a press release earlier this month. “The 2025 International Games schedule showcases an exciting selection of matchups featuring major NFL stars, bringing our game directly to fans around the world, and underscores our collective commitment to global growth as we continue our journey to becoming a truly global sport.”

16 international games a year would mean an international game would be played nearly every week. And as Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk said, every team would likely play one international game along with eight home games and eight road games. Smith also said a move like this could push the NFL to have 18 regular-season games, which has been discussed in the past. The NFL jumped from 16 to 17 regular-season games in 2021.