It seems as though the long-awaited NFL regular season game in Dublin could be imminent, according to the league's commissioner Roger Goodell.
The international series of games has become a pillar of the NFL season in recent years. Established locations in London and Mexico have been joined by several cities in Germany and Brazil over the past decade, with the league continuing their overseas expansion.
2025 is set to bring the first game in Spain, with a fixture taking place in the renovated Santiago Bernabeu in Madrid.
It seems as though we may also finally see an NFL game in Dublin, with Goodell confirming on Sunday that negotiations are underway to bring the league to Ireland next year.
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NFL commissioner confirms Dublin is on the cards for 2025
Roger Goodell was pitchside in Munich on Sunday as the New York Giants faced the Carolina Panthers at the home of FC Bayern.
Goodell was asked about the NFL's plans for the 2025 international series - and confirmed that Dublin is on the verge of securing a spot as a host city.
Goodell said,
We are definitely going to Spain, we've announced that. We expect to return to Mexico City, we expect to return to Brazil.
We will certainly be back in the UK. We're also looking at the potential of another game in the UK area in Ireland, possibly. That's a possibility.
We'll certainly be back here in Germany. If that totals eight, that's what we're shooting for.
It's the biggest indication we've had yet that an NFL game in Dublin is imminent.
The league has allowed franchises to set up commercial operations in overseas markets in recent years, with the Pittsburgh Steelers establishing themselves in the Irish market.
It is expected that the Steelers would be involved should the NFL return to Dublin, having played a pre-season game in Croke Park in the 1990s.
A return to Ireland would likely take place in GAA HQ, with the Steelers launching their Dublin operation in the stadium last March with the GAA president in attendance.
Goodell had spoken on the prospect of a Dublin game last month. Appearing at a fan event, Goodell said that he had no doubt that the league would eventually arrive in Ireland but that he was unsure if a game would come in 2025.
His comments this weekend are far more encouraging, and fans in Ireland will have fingers crossed for the announcement of an NFL Dublin game in the coming weeks.
The news comes after Derryman Jude McAtamney became the first Irishman this century to score points in the NFL. McAtamney made his debut for the New York Giants last weekend against the Washington Commanders, amid an injury crisis for the New York side.
