The NFL has expanded commercial operations to the EAU and would consider playing in Dubai or Abu Dhabi, said a high -level league official.
The NFL announced this week that the United Arab Emirates have added Bone to the list of countries where teams can be marketed and there is a possibility that future games are played in the country.
The League announced an expansion of its Global Markets program (GMP), with four new clubs that will participate in 2025 and two new markets were added.
NFL in the EAU
Run in 2022, the Global Markets program grants the International Marketing Rights of NFL clubs to create brand and fandom awareness beyond the United States, through the participation of fans, events, commercial opportunities and the development of the NFL flag.
The EAU and Greece have their leg added to the program. In the Eau Los Angeles Rams, the commanders of San Francisco 49ers and Washington were the selected teams that gave the opportunity to expand commercial operations in the country.
The NFL will play in England, Spain, Germany, Ireland and Brazil in 2025, since it seems to expand interest in the sport of American Football International.
An additional game will be played in Australia in 2026. However, there is a possible interest of the NFL in playing in the EAU.
Peter O’Reilly, executive vice president of the NFL, club businesses, important and international events, said: “Definitely interest, absolutely, the interest is high. We do not know the moment, and it is really a ‘if’ in terms of whether we will play there.
“What I will say is that this is a market where it is a great interest in our game throughout the year. I think that is why you see three clubs that raises your hand with interest there, it is a market that we will continue exploring.
“We have made some exploratory trips there to understand the viability of a possible regular seasonal game in the market, but we have more work to do there in terms of how it looks on this next section.”
In total, 29 clubs will participate in the global market program in 21 international markets, compared to 25 clubs in 19 markets in 2024, as the NFL continues to prioritize global growth and connection with more fans markets worldwide.
O’Reilly said: “The expansion of the global market program in 2025 reflects the continuous approach of the NFL to grow the game and connect with fans on a global scale.
“With more clubs that enter the program and existing clubs that add to their global rights, already measure that the program expands to the new markets, we are seeing a strong impulse and impact on the growing Fandom worldwide together.”
