The NFL’s long-running push for international growth is reaching a tipping point, and fans might want to buckle up. Commissioner Roger Goodell has just dropped a bombshell at the CNBC CEO Council Summit, hinting at a seismic shift in the league’s schedule that could redefine how and where football is played.
With the league already set to host a record seven games abroad in 2025, Goodell said the number could balloon to 16 international matchups per year — essentially one for every team — in as little as five years.
Why 16 International Games Could Be Coming Sooner Than Expected
Speaking alongside Marriott CEO Anthony Capuano, Goodell made it clear the NFL isn’t just testing international waters anymore, they’re ready to dive in headfirst.
“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.”
If that timeline holds, the league could be looking at an entirely new version of the schedule, with every franchise potentially playing at least one game abroad per season. That would mark a massive evolution for a league that only recently started treating international games as more than just promotional exhibitions.
In 2025, the NFL is headed to Brazil, England, Germany, Spain, and Ireland. The Minnesota Vikings will even play back-to-back games overseas, a league first, thus giving the NFL a chance to test what essentially becomes a two-week international road trip. It might also be a preview of what’s to come if the schedule expands to 16 games, which could open the door for a second bye week.
A Bigger Footprint Means Bigger Business
Goodell’s pitch wasn’t just about growing the game, it was about growing the bottom line. With more than 200 million fans in the U.S. already, the league sees international markets as the next frontier.
“International is an open market for us,” Goodell said. “We are excited about our potential.”
Capuano added that sports-related travel now drives more than $50 billion in annual revenue and accounts for 10% of global tourism — a number that makes it easy to see why the NFL is leaning in.
Valuations, Private Equity, and a Whole Lot of Cash
As the league pushes global, money continues to pour in. The NFL made a record $23 billion in revenue in 2024, and the average team is now valued at $6.49 billion, per CNBC.
Goodell acknowledged how fast valuations have surged, with the San Francisco 49ers reportedly agreeing to a 6.2% sale at over $8.5 billion.
“It’s a statement about the business model,” Goodell said. “I think a lot of people are valuing our franchises because of the future — and that’s what we want.”
That future also includes more private equity. The NFL finally allowed outside investment last August and may soon add another firm to the approved list, which already includes heavyweights like Ares Management and Arctos Partners.
“There’s enough demand for it that we think it’s the right step,” Goodell added.
Even with inflation, tariffs, and economic uncertainty, Goodell isn’t flinching.
“Live sports are in a different category,” he said. “There’s still great demand in our content.”
If that demand holds, and history suggests it will, we may be just a few years away from a new era of the NFL. One where international games are the norm, private equity fuels growth, and football truly goes global.