The NFL is actively pursuing plans to host a game in Berlin, as confirmed by Commissioner Roger Goodell, who urges German fans to “Believe it.”
After the league’s inaugural regular-season game in Germany took place in Munich in 2022, two more games were held in Frankfurt the following year. This Sunday, Munich will host the matchup between the New York Giants and the Carolina Panthers, marking the fifth and final international game of the current season.
During a recent Q-and-A session with fans in Munich, Goodell addressed the speculation surrounding a potential game in Berlin. “I usually tell people, ‘Don’t believe rumors,'” he stated. “In this case, I might say, ‘Believe it.’ We’re working on it, but it isn’t finalized. We really feel like Berlin would be a great addition, so we’re looking very hard at that. Our people have been working very hard at it, but I want to add that does not mean we’re not going to be back in Frankfurt and Munich.”
Reports from German news agency dpa and broadcaster RTL have indicated that the Berlin city government is exploring plans for an NFL game.
Interestingly, Berlin was not among the initial German cities that bid to host regular-season games. The three finalists chosen in 2021 included Frankfurt, Munich, and Duesseldorf, which has yet to host a game.
Goodell shared that Berlin holds special significance for him, recalling his involvement in the NFL’s first exhibition game in Germany back in 1990. This historic event took place at Berlin’s Olympiastadion, just months after the fall of the Berlin Wall, featuring a matchup between the Los Angeles Rams and the Kansas City Chiefs.
“It was one of my favorite events,” Goodell reminisced. “The German fans were just fantastic and overwhelming.”
In December, NFL team owners voted to allow the league to host eight international games each season, with Goodell expressing an ambition for 16 games in the long run.
This season also saw the league’s first game in Brazil, and it plans to debut in Spain with a game in Madrid next year. Meanwhile, London hosted three games this season, showcasing the NFL’s growing international presence.
