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NFL Owner Outlines His Ideal International Game Schedule

Originally posted on The Spun | By Daniel Bates | Last updated Jul 27, 2025 4:09 PM ET

Growing the game of football beyond America's borders has been a mission of Roger Goodell and the National Football League since he took over in 2006.

Goodell has gone on-record that he'd like the NFL to play 16 international games per season. Which really only leads down one road — one international game every year, for every team.

That seems to be a vision Falcons owner Arthur Blank shares as well. Telling the NFL Network that an "international game every year for every team" is "probably on the horizon."

As things stand right now, the league is limited to a maximum of 10 overseas games under the current CBA. But that's expected to change the next time the owners and players return to the negotiating table.

For the sake of competitive balance (as well as money and reach) it definitely makes sense why the NFL would push for every franchise to have to play a game outside of the U.S.

TAMPA, FLORIDA - OCTOBER 22: Owner Arthur Blank of the Atlanta Falcons looks on prior to a game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Raymond James Stadium on October 22, 2023 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)Julio Aguilar/Getty Images

More international games would also allow the league and its broadcast partners to make football Sunday a truly all-day event with matchups starting at 9:30 AM ET and running all the way through the night to NBC's primetime "SNF" slot.

The NFL has seemingly been embraced by fans from all over Europe, South America and more so there doesn't really seem to be a downside from that standpoint either (even if some teams are bigger draws than others).

This article first appeared on The Spun and was syndicated with permission.

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