Although the NFL has been an American institution for a century, it has been taking hold outside of the U.S. Considering that the NFL has the highest average attendance of any professional sports league in the world, it doesn’t come as much of a shock that the NFL is reaching new heights.
American teams have been playing on international soil for many years now. The NFL has played numerous games outside of the U.S., starting as far back as 1950 in Canada. More recently, NFL teams have been playing the London Games at Wembley Stadium, a series that has been in place since 2007. These international games have also expanded to Mexico, and there are plans for upcoming games in Germany.. Each year, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has become increasingly interested in expanding the NFL to more states and countries. So, when the NFL continues to expand, where do you think we will find it next? Check out our picks for the top 40 cities that are ready for some football!
Birmingham, Alabama
Birmingham, Alabama hosted one of the eighteen teams in the United States Football League (USFL) from 1983 to 1985. As one of the league’s founding teams, the Stallions qualified for the playoffs twice, losing in the conference championships in 1984 and the semi-finals in 1985.
Birmingham is home to one of the most passionate college fanbases in NCAA football. It’s also the 45th largest TV market. Although several current teams are located near strong college programs, an NFL team in Birmingham may have a tough time garnering fans and support away from the Crimson Tide.
Richmond, Virginia
Washington Football Team fans have had a stronghold on Virginia for quite some time now. Owner Daniel Snyder has made it his mission to turn those fans away with how poorly he has run the organization. Planting a new NFL expansion team at his doorstep could convert Washington Football Team fans overnight.
The Hampton Roads-Richmond, Virginia area has well over one million eager NFL fans chomping at the bit for a team worth rooting for. Although the capital city has expressed reluctance to build a new stadium, maybe they will reconsider.
Omaha, Nebraska
Omaha, Nebraska, is another large city that goes wild for football. This U.S. city has seen an increase in population over the last ten years, expanding it to the size of locations such as Atlanta and Kansas City. It is currently the country’s 42nd-largest city.
Since size doesn’t automatically secure a city a professional team—just look at Baltimore, MD—other criteria must be considered, such as industry and sponsorship opportunities. These are things Omaha clearly has. The biggest hangup for Nebraska’s largest city is a stadium that will make money rather than drain it.
Memphis, Tennessee
Outside of Florida, there are only four NFL teams located in the southeast—the Titans, the Saints, the Panthers, and the Falcons. It’s surprising that Memphis, Tennessee, hasn’t been in more discussions concerning NFL expansion locations.
The excitement over the Liberty Bowl that Memphis hosts every year demonstrates the city’s love for football. It’s far enough away from Nashville to be its own market, yet close enough to create an awesome in-state rivalry. It would also bring in fans from Arkansas and Mississippi, two states without NFL teams.
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
It’s been 12 years since the Supersonics of the NBA relocated from Seattle to Oklahoma City, a move that has definitely paid off. The state capital can certainly revive a dying franchise, so why not give it its own NFL team to develop?
Oklahoma City is located three hours north of Dallas, Texas, and five hours south of Kansas City, making it the perfect location for a thriving NFL team. The fans are passionate about football, and the more than one-million people combined in Oklahoma City and Tulsa would love to support an NFL team.
St. Louis, Missouri
Football fans in St. Louis are still upset with Los Angeles Rams owner Stan Kroenke for moving the team from their beloved city. Over the past 30 years, the city has seen the NFL come and go twice. No fanbase should ever have to experience that type of heartbreak.
St. Louis is a proud sports city that deserves a fresh start. Rather than moving another team to Missouri, give them one from scratch and watch this U.S. market make it a success. The NHL Blues and MLB Cardinals need some company.
Salt Lake City, Utah
Perhaps Commissioner Roger Goodell is trying to fill gaps across the U.S. map with NFL expansion teams. If this is the case, look no further than Salt Lake City, Utah. As proud supporters of both Utah and BYU football, Salt Lake City is a prime location for expansion.
Salt Lake City is among one of the richest regions in the United States, and was ranked 10th on Forbes’ 2017 list of the fastest-growing American cities. The only obstacle would be convincing the very Mormon community to show up on Sundays.
Orlando, Florida
Although the NFL already has three franchises in Florida, the league seems to be flirting with the idea of adding a fourth in Orlando. The NFL has chosen Camping World Stadium to be the venue for the Pro Bowl every year since 2016.
Orlando has more than 2.3 million people, a professional stadium, and Disney, which already boasts of a corporate partnership with the NFL. It makes you wonder why the NFL expanded to Jacksonville rather than Orlando in 1995.
Portland, Oregon
In another attempt for Goodwell to fill in the NFL gap between Washington and California, Portland, Oregon looks like it could be a very lucrative opportunity. The die-hard sports fanbase comes out in droves to support the NBA Trailblazers and MLS Timbers.
In 2017, Portland was ranked as the 25th-largest TV market—an important element the NFL considers when looking to expand. With Oregon-based Nike and the NFL extending their agreement through 2028, the company could convince other corporations to sponsor an NFL team.
Lisbon, Portugal
Portugal is one of the countries on this list that’s the closest to North America. The Portuguese League of American Football actually kicked off its 11th season last year, and includes two teams from Lisbon—the Navigators and Devils.
As the largest city in Portugal with a population sitting around half a million, Lisbon is a long shot—like many of the cities on the backend of our list—but the people there certainly enjoy their fair share of American football.
Marseille, France
Despite team USA’s lopsided 82-0 victory over France in the International Federation of American Football (IFAF) World Championship five years ago, France put together a decent national team.
The city of Marseille, located on France’s south coast, is the second-largest city in the country. It’s also the home of the Marseille Blue Stars, a team in the Elite League of American Football established in 1985. It has a population of about 1.6 million, and is the site of the well-known Basilica of Notre Dame de la Garde.
Helsinki, Finland
The Helsinki Roosters play in the Vaahteraliiga, the highest level of football played under the American Football Association of Finland (AFAF). The team has won an astonishing 22 Championship titles since 1982, and Helsinki is the country’s largest city.
Here’s the kicker: American football is played in men’s, women’s, and youth leagues all across Finland, which is major news, considering the attention ladies in the States have been receiving for landing well-deserved jobs in the NFL. It could be a solid partnership to look into for the future.
Dusseldorf, Germany
Spoiler alert! Dusseldorf is the first of many German cities that could easily host an NFL expansion team in the future. The NFL founded NFL Europa (the World League of American Football), and it’s very popular in Germany. In fact, of the 15 World Bowls, 10 were won by teams in Germany.
Dusseldorf was the home of the Rhein Fire from 1995-2007, taking the take to 2 World Bowl Championship titles. The Dusseldorf Panthers are currently the best team in the German Football League.
Madrid, Spain
With a population of well over five million, Spain’s capital city of Madrid is a hot spot for soccer. The Madrid Panteras play in the Liga Nacional de Fútbol Americano, the top league in the Spanish Federation of American Football.
With plenty of soccer stadiums that can be used for the gridiron, Madrid could easily host an NFL expansion team. Of course, many European cities are home to great soccer squads and stadiums, but Madrid certainly stands out as a mecca for sports. Let’s see what American football can do there.
Calgary, Alberta
The Canadian Football League is rather successful. Sure, it may not boast the same quality of play as the NFL, but it is popular north of the border. The Calgary Stampeders have won eight Grey Cups in the CFL, and have finished near the top of the West Division every season over the past decade.
To be honest, many of the CFL cities could host an NFL expansion team. In fact, Canada is the country outside the U.S. with the most football players in the NFL, with 107. Calgary, Alberta’s rapid growth due to its oil industry may also make it a hot spot for the NFL to break into.
Paris, France
Although the most popular sport in France—along with many other European countries—is soccer, the second largest city of Paris is highly worthy of hosting an NFL team. The notoriety of Paris is obviously greater than that of Marseille, and this romantic city could use some smash-mouth football.
The current team hailing from Paris in the Elite League of American Football is the Molosses d’Asnières. They lost both of the championship games they appeared in during 1999 and 2014.
Cologne, Germany
Cologne, Germany was home to the Centurians in NFL Europe between 2004-2007, replacing the defunct Barcelona Dragons. Unfortunately, they were unable to win a World Bowl during their time in the league. However, they were still a force to be reckoned with.
Cologne is the fourth-largest city in Germany with a population of just over a million. Other than soccer, football and hockey are both popular sports played in Cologne. As mentioned before, the NFL has shown interest in expanding to Germany.
Edmonton, Alberta
Edmonton, Alberta sits just below Calgary in population. It is also the home of the Eskimos, an American football team in CFL. As the capital city of Alberta, its chances of receiving an NFL expansion team are more likely than Calgary, although not by much.
The “Gateway to the North” is one city among many in Canada that could not only support an NFL team, but could also benefit from its presents as well. Hockey and the NFL certainly go well together. The 1967 National Football League Championship Game was called the Ice Bowl after all.
Seoul, South Korea
Historically, interest in American football among South Koreans has been low. It wasn’t until a visit from Pittsburgh Steelers player Hines Ward, a Korean-born wide receiver, that the sport received a modest increase in appeal.
The Korea National Football League (KNFL) was headquartered in Seoul, and at one time hosted three separate teams—the Golden Eagles, the Carnivores, and the Vikings. Seoul, South Korea is certainly capable of supporting an NFL team, but playing a professional game there may be a good first step.
Winnipeg, Manitoba
As the capital city of Manitoba, Winnipeg’s ample green space is home to many festivals, exhibits, and city-wide events. It’s also the home of another CFL team—the Blue Bombers. Winnipeg has two hockey teams, a soccer team, and even a baseball team.
Referred to as the “Gateway to the West,” it’s a hub for transportation with a variety of economies and industries. Diverse locations are what the NFL may be looking for when searching for the appropriate place to explore. Winnipeg doesn’t seem so shabby.
Ottawa, Ontario
Ottawa, Ontario is another thriving Canadian city that already hosts a CFL team—the Redblacks. As the capital city of Canada, it sits just two hours west of Montreal, Quebec, another city you may just find a little further on the list.
Interestingly, Ottawa is the seventh-coldest capital in the world—perfect for outdoor hockey and NFL football. It rivals the chilly temperatures at Lambeau Field in Green Bay. Since Ottawa is the most educated city in Canada, it may be a “smart” move to build an NFL franchise there.
Amsterdam, Netherlands
The Amsterdam Admirals were part of the NFL’s early efforts to rebuild the World League of American Football completely in Europe. The Admirals, who entered the league in 1995, played until the league collapsed in 2007. Their lone championship title came in 2005, when they defeated the Berlin Thunder in World Bowl XIII.
Amsterdam currently has a team in the eight-team American Football Federation of the Netherlands (AFBN) called the Crusaders. Football refuses to die in Amsterdam! That’s why it would make a great place for an NFL expansion team.
Rome, Italy
Let’s suspend reality for a moment and think about watching American football in the Rome Coliseum in Italy. There’s just something about Rome that screams smash-mouth football. Wouldn’t it be cool to watch a Super Bowl in the Coliseum?
Heading back to Earth now, Rome’s biggest soccer stadium, Stadio Olimpico, would provide ample room to host an NFL team. As Italy’s largest city, Rome currently has three American football teams, with the best being the Marines Lazio of the Italian Federation of American Football.
Manchester, England
Similar to Madrid, Manchester, England is home to some of the best soccer the world has ever seen. Manchester United has dominated the scene for quite some time, so why not give American football a try? They absolutely have the fan base for another team!
Manchester has never hosted any type of professional American football. However, the NFL’s high interest in bringing a team (or more) to Europe may just get Manchester citizens excited about a new form of football. They certainly have the stadiums to pull it off.
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
NFL vice president of international commercial development, Akash Jain, has recently visited the country of Brazil in hopes of finding a venue to host an NFL game. Rio de Janeiro hosted the 2016 Summer Olympics, so the infrastructure and support for a local team may already be in place.
However, there have been reports that the Olympic Games changed Rio, but not for the good. It may not be worth the risk regardless of the potential. It appears a different city in Brazil may be a more likely target.
Edinburg/Glasgow, Scotland
The Scottish Claymores, along with two other teams, joined the World League of American Football (WLAF) in 1995. Then, they split time between Edinburg and Glasgow, Scotland. They were later replaced by the Hamburg Sea Devils in 2005. Both stadiums could draw crowds of over 50,000.
Although the national sport of Scotland is golf—which is on the complete opposite side of the spectrum from American football—many of the country’s international rugby matches are played at BT Murrayfield Stadium in Edinburgh.
Montreal, Quebec
Montreal, Quebec is an important center for commerce, technology, and culture. With a population of just over 3.5 million, it is the second-largest city in Canada. It’s also the home of the CFL’s Montreal Alouettes.
As mentioned previously, it’s only a two-hour drive from Ottawa, Ontario, making it a possible hub or co-franchise city for NFL international expansion. If the NFL wants to succeed at taking its product worldwide, it helps to already have American football fans in the area. Additionally, the Montreal Machine was the sole Canadian team in the WLAF.
Tokyo, Japan
Back in the 1980s, American football was fairly popular in Tokyo, Japan. Unfortunately, that was over 30 years ago, and the sport is currently struggling to regain traction. However, we can think of a few reasons an expansion team would work there.
There is hope in that the Japanese American Football Association is keeping youth football popular. Also, Japan’s X-League has several corporately funded teams. If European teams can enjoy success, there’s no reason why Tokyo couldn’t as well. It’s really just a matter of overall interest.
Barcelona, Spain
Barcelona, Spain hosted a WLAF team from 1991-1992, and again from 1995-2003 en route to a World Bowl Championship. Similar to Madrid, it is home to one of the best soccer teams in the world. It is also the home of tennis star Rafael Nadal.
Spain has a total population of over 47 million, making it the 30th-largest country in the world. Barcelona also hosted the 1992 Summer Olympics. It’s a hotbed for athletic competition, an opportunity the NFL just has to look into.
Dublin, Ireland
Bringing American football to the real “Fighting Irish” is what movies are made of. Although Dublin isn’t the most populated European city, smaller locations have had modest success in hosting an American football team—take the Scottish Claymores, for example.
The Irish American Football League (IAFL) currently has 22 teams that demonstrate a moderate-to-high level of interest in the sport. With Dublin being the largest city in the country, one might only need to name the team after Ireland so the entire nation could get on board.
Hamburg, Germany
As previously mentioned, the Hamburg Sea Devils replaced the Amsterdam Admirals in 2005 in the WLAF. Although the league folded two years later, Hamburg was able to capture a World Bowl Championship.
Hamburg is the second-largest city in Germany. It has half the population of Berlin. This city is another great location for an NFL expansion team, as Commissioner Goodell’s interest in this European country continues to grow. What a beautiful place to spend a day enjoying a great football game!
Vancouver, British Columbia
Vancouver is just a three-hour drive from Seattle, Washington. This city would be another ideal spot to plant an NFL expansion team in Canada. Simply add them to a West Coast division and let them duke it out against some of California’s best teams, as well as the Seahawks. Vancouver currently hosts the British Columbia Lions of the CFL.
Because of Vancouver’s proximity to the mountains and oceans, an array of sporting activities can be enjoyed nearby. It certainly sounds like a strategic place to expand the NFL. What do you think?
Birmingham, England
Birmingham, England is the second-largest city in England. It is approximately a two-hour drive northwest of London. That makes the perfect distance for an NFL rivalry—that is, if London gets an NFL team (wink, wink).
According to World Atlas, “Birmingham’s economy is the second-largest in the UK after London and is mainly driven by the service sector”—a perfect industry for making sure game day runs smoothly on Sundays. We think Goodell should definitely look into Birmingham as an option for an expansion team.
Sao Paulo, Brazil
Earlier we had mentioned that an NFL international representative had flown to Brazil looking for venues to host an NFL game. Well, he actually visited three potential stadiums in São Paulo. These locations included Allianz Park, Pacaembu Stadium, and Arena Corinthians.
Arena Corinthians, the top venue, has a seating capacity of 49,000. It also has large open spaces surrounding the stadium which can be used for various activities. Morumbi Stadium, home to São Paulo FC, is also in the mix, although it wasn’t surveyed. It looks like some serious efforts are being put into at least hosting an NFL game in Brazil in the very near future.
Toronto, Canada
Toronto is the capital city of Ontario, as well as the most populous city in Canada. It has a population of around three million. Although Toronto has been the home of a few American football teams, including the Continental Football League’s Toronto Rifles, and the current CFL Argonauts, it has never hosted an NFL team.
Of all the cities in Canada, Toronto seems to be the frontrunner, especially since the MLB, NBA, and NHL have found success in Ontario’s capital. Look for an NFL team in Toronto if the league ever decides to expand north.
Berlin, Germany
As the capital and largest city of Germany, Berlin seems to be the perfect location for an NFL expansion team. Although Cologne hosted the 2019 International Combine, scouting events are typically held privately, so drawing a crowd wasn’t the goal. But it does show that Germany is thirsty for the NFL.
What better location than the capital city? It has a diverse culture, and it hosted the Berlin Thunder—one of the top teams in the WLAF–from 1999-2007. They won three World Bowl Championships. Berlin is an obvious choice.
Mexico City, Mexico
Similar to heading north to play in Canada, hopping on a plane to catch a flight south of the border wouldn’t be much trouble at all. In fact, Commissioner Goodell has already announced that the NFL will return to Mexico City for one game at Estadio Azteca during the 2020 and 2021 seasons.
The NFL already visited Mexico City in November of last season for a Monday Night Football contest between the Kansas City Chiefs and Los Angeles Chargers. Expansion into Mexico may be closer than we think.
Frankfurt, Germany
After we spoke so confidently about Berlin being the first city in Germany to receive an NFL team, seeing Frankfurt must have come as quite a shocker—unless you really follow your American football. Despite it being only the fifth-largest city in Germany, it has quite the history.
Of the ten World Bowls won by German teams, the Frankfurt Galaxy played in eight of them, winning four and losing four. The Galaxy garnered much support since the United States’ Rhein-Main Air Base is nearby. Step aside, Berlin!
San Antonio, Texas
If Florida and California can have three NFL franchises, so can Texas. Expanding the NFL to San Antonio would be a brilliant move. Although the state’s capital of Austin could also support an NFL team, San Antonio is dying to support more than just the Spurs since the team joined the NBA in 1976.
San Antonio is the 8th largest market in the U.S. They even hosted several NFL games when the Saints had to play at the Alamodome in 2005 due to Hurricane Katrina. San Antonio has a population of 2.5 million, and just recently invested $50 million to upgrade its stadium.
London, England
Wembley Stadium in London, England has hosted NFL games since 2007. The league returned to London in 2020 for what it’s now calling the NFL London Games. As England’s largest city, London is the “elephant in the room” in regard to which international city the NFL will start its global expansion in.
Europe has always been the targeted market outside the United States, and London has the best relationship with the NFL. It appears as though the term NFL “fixtures” is about to introduce itself into the vocabulary of NFL fans around the world.