Roger Goodell discusses expanding international slate to Asia, has 'no doubt' NFL's Dublin game will be successful

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DUBLIN (AP) — The NFL wants to expand its slate of international games to Asia, Commissioner Roger Goodell said Saturday without specifying any countries.

Goodell’s comment at an event in Dublin could indicate the league is ready to stage a game in the Middle East, and it comes a day after announcing that Rio de Janeiro will join the list of international hosts in 2026.

The Pittsburgh Steelers and Minnesota Vikings play Sunday in Ireland’s first regular-season game — and Goodell said he has no doubt there will be more in Dublin.

Sunday’s game at Croke Park is the second of seven international games this season, and in 2026 Australia will host a regular-season game for the first time.

“I think our next step after Australia would be probably moving into Asia,” Goodell said. “That’s a continent we’d like to be playing in. We are serious about being a global sport. We would like to get to 16 games so everyone is playing one game a year internationally.”

A league spokesman declined to comment on which Asian countries the NFL is considering.

The agreement in Ireland is one game followed by an evaluation period, but Goodell said Saturday he’s optimistic it won’t be one and done.

“We never like to say whether we’re coming back until we finish the first one, so let’s talk about it Monday. But I have no doubt this is going to be incredibly successful,” Goodell said at a fan event.

“I also have no doubt that we’ll be back.”

The Gaelic Athletic Association, which owns Croke Park, has already said it hopes it won’t be a “one-off.” And the Irish government, which allocated up to 9.95 million euros ($11.7 million) to support Sunday’s game, has said it is interested in more games.

Dublin already hosts a college football game each season at Aviva Stadium.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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