NFL in Europe: Capital city to host first game in 2025

The NFL is once again increasing its presence in Europe.

The league announced Wednesday that it will play its first-ever regular season game in Berlin, Germany in 2025. The game will be played at the Olympic Stadium as part of a multiyear commitment to playing games in the German capital.

The NFL has previously held regular season games in Munich and Frankfurt since 2022, with the game in Berlin set to mark the fifth NFL regular season game in Germany.

“Germany has a rich tradition of American football, and the NFL has a deep history with the city of Berlin,” said NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell.

“We first held a preseason game at the Olympic Stadium 34 years ago, before it was home to NFL Europe’s Berlin Thunder in the early 2000s. Now, with almost 20 million NFL fans in Germany, we’ll make a historic return to the city playing a regular season game for the first time as we open the next chapter in our relationship with Berlin.”

Berlin is the latest foreign city that will host an NFL game. To date, 55 regular season games have been played around the world throughout the league’s history, with London, São Paulo, Mexico City and Toronto all hosting games in addition to the German cities.

Beginning in 2025, the NFL can schedule up to eight international games per season. Two games in London and one in Madrid have been confirmed with additional games and locations to be announced, the NFL said.

As part of the partnership, the NFL will work with the Berlin Senate to grow and develop flag football ahead of its Olympic debut in Los Angeles in 2028.

“This long-term partnership with the NFL will continue to boost Berlin as a global sports metropolis, as well as excite fans at the Olympic Stadium,” said Senator for the Interior and Sports, State of Berlin, Iris Spranger.

“The 2025 NFL Berlin game means worldwide visibility, numerous international guests, increased tourism and high economic value across the city. We’re looking forward to an incredible game and an ongoing successful partnership with the league, as we continue to strengthen the presence of American football throughout the state.”

The NFL played five American Bowl games at the Olympic Stadium between 1990 and 1994, and it was also home to NFL Europe’s Berlin Thunder from 2003-07.

The Olympic Stadium has hosted the 1936 Summer Olympic Games, the FIFA Men’s World Cup (1974 and 2006), a FIFA Women’s World Cup (2011), six UEFA EURO 2024 matches, including the final, and world and European athletics championships.

The Olympic Stadium is also the home of the football club Hertha BSC.