Aditya ChaudhuriThe National Football League (NFL) has revealed three host venues for the 2024 NFL International Games, with the home grounds of Tottenham Hotspur FC of the Premier League and FC Bayern Munich of the German Bundesliga set to serve as two of the three venues.
Spurs’ home stadium, Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, will be host to the Chicago Bears and the Minnesota Vikings, while the Jacksonville Jaguars will play at Wembley Stadium, the home ground of the England national football teams that temporarily served as Spurs’ home ground between 2017 and 2019. FC Bayern Munich’s Allianz Arena, meanwhile, will host the Carolina Panthers.
Tottenham Hotspur Stadium is also the only purpose-built NFL stadium situated outside the US.
The four NFL teams taking part in the 2024 International Games are part of the league’s Global Markets Program, which is aimed at growing the league beyond the US market.
An international regular-season NFL game is due to be played in São Paulo, Brazil, as well later this year, which will be the first-ever in South America. Set to be played at Brazilian football club Corinthians’ home ground, the Neo Química Arena, the game’s designated team are yet to be announced.
Peter O’Reilly, Executive Vice President, Club Business, League Events and International, NFL, stated:
“Taking our game to more fans around the world is a major priority for the league and its 32 teams, and we are delighted to be returning to London and Munich in 2024.“
“Whether tackle or flag football, international passion for the game and the NFL continues to grow, and having our teams and their world-class athletes play games and engage with fans around the world is an important part of becoming a truly global sport.“
Shad Khan, Owner, Jacksonville Jaguars, said:
“We certainly owe a debt of thanks to the thousands of fans in the U.K., Ireland and throughout Europe who have made the Jaguars their NFL team since our first London home game in 2013. We’ve now played 11 games in London, have forged deep relationships with fans and businesses, have introduced American football to young people that participate in our community programs throughout the U.K., and we’ve raised funds and supported causes that touch many lives.
“In all, we’ve established a strong Jaguars tradition in London that our fans and followers celebrate every day of the year. That tradition continues next season when the Jaguars return to London, and we can’t wait to see everyone once again in Wembley Stadium, our home away from home.“
George H McCaskey, Chairman, Chicago Bears, said:
“Every game the Chicago Bears play is rich in tradition, culture and passion. And every year, game after game, we look forward to welcoming fans to experience that richness. This year, we will take our storied franchise and tradition back to London and share internationally what our fans locally experience at every game. We are excited to join the many NFL teams who are expanding internationally to play a game in London during our 2024 season.“
Mark Wilf, Owner and President, Minnesota Vikings, added:
“We are honoured to once again represent the NFL in the continued effort to make the game of football more accessible globally. We’ve seen tremendous international support of the Vikings with our previous three London games and with our successful bid to land the United Kingdom as a global market. Our focus will be on winning for the fourth consecutive time in London, along with replicating the incredible gameday environment we enjoy in Minnesota and creating a memorable experience for our partners and fans.”
David Tepper, Owner, Carolina Panthers, said:
“It’s an honour for the Carolina Panthers to play in Munich in 2024. This game represents more than playing internationally for us. With more than 200 German-owned companies in the Charlotte area, this opportunity offers a special connection for the Panthers and our community. We are excited to deepen our relationships with our German fans, engage with our partners and continue to grow our brand globally.“
