NFL Commissioner signals possible expansion with teams outside the United States
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said the league expects to have teams based abroad, prompting discussion of future expansion beyond the current 32-team structure.
The National Football League has not added a new franchise since 2002, marking its longest period without expansion. Commissioner Roger Goodell recently stated that the league will have "teams outside the USA," suggesting that the NFL is considering adding or relocating at least two clubs to foreign markets.
Analysts note that the Jacksonville Jaguars are unlikely to move, given a new long-term lease and ongoing stadium renovations. London, which already hosts two NFL-ready venues and has a two-decade partnership with the league, is seen as the most plausible location for an international expansion.
If two teams were added, the league could maintain its current conference balance by placing one new club in the AFC East and the other in the NFC East, with future adjustments potentially creating additional divisions. Some proposals envision a 40-team league organized into five divisions per conference, including dedicated international divisions with clubs in Europe, Latin America, Asia or Australia.
Logistical challenges such as travel time are being examined, with reports indicating the NFL is monitoring developments in supersonic aviation. Goodell emphasized that establishing overseas teams is a matter of timing rather than possibility.