Roger Goodell reveals 'most likely' destination for first international NFL teams

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell raised eyebrows and generated headlines when he said in August: "At some point, there will be NFL teams outside the USA. I have no doubt that this will happen one day." 

During the Amazon Prime Video pregame show ahead of Thursday night's showdown between the Buffalo Bills and the Detroit Lions, Goodell was asked when such a club could be added to the league and where that team could be located.

Why this is the "most likely" destination for an international NFL team

"You know, that’s tough to say," Goodell responded, per NFL insider Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. "I think if we continue to grow and continue to get the kind of reaction, I do think a franchise will be international at some point in time. I think Europe is the most likely, for a lot of reasons. One, the length of time we’ve been playing there. But also, the scheduling is going to be a lot easier."

As noted by ESPN, the NFL first began playing regular-season games in London back in 2007. Since that time, the league holding contests at Wembley Stadium and Tottenham Hotspur Stadium has become a yearly occurrence. 

For years, rumors have suggested the NFL wants to eventually add a four-team European division as part of a massive expansion that could include four additional clubs being placed either in other countries or in American cities. While Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay hasn't hidden that he hopes his team will never have to play in Australia "ever again" after its Week 1 loss to the rival San Francisco 49ers earlier this month, it sounds like the league will be headed back to that country sooner rather than later. 

"Australia might create a few complications for us," Goodell admitted regarding the creation of an international team. "But I also believe we could have more than one team. ...The support is there."

What the future NFL could look like

It seems unlikely that the NFL will add a European team under the current collective bargaining agreement, which runs through the 2030 season. Eventually, the league is expected to shift to a schedule format that will feature teams playing 18 regular-season games and two preseason contests per campaign. 

Such a schedule could include clubs having two byes per season. 

"Goodell has in the past hinted at a four-team European division," Florio added. "The best long-term vision could be four teams in Europe and four teams elsewhere (Brazil, Mexico, Australia, and Japan). Much of that hinges on the return of supersonic flight, a development the NFL is closely monitoring. Yes, the league has been dangling the carrot of an international team for years. Often, it’s about driving interest in the variety pack of games played in other countries. At this point, it does indeed feel as if it’s coming eventually."

In short, it sounds like there is at least a chance that the NFL could truly be a worldwide league by the time the 2030s come to an end.