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In a recent announcement, the National Football League (NFL) said it will have five teams set to play in the 2023 International Games. The Buffalo Bills, Tennessee Titans, Jacksonville Jaguars, Kansas City Chiefs and New England Patriots will each play international games during the 2023 regular season.
According to the NFL, London’s Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, the only purpose-built NFL stadium outside of the U.S., will once again host two international games, with the Bills and Titans heading to the capital. The Jaguars will also return to their home away from home, Wembley Stadium, as part of their multi-year commitment to playing in the UK.
The 2023 season will also see the Chiefs and Patriots both play regular season games in Germany, with destination cities to be announced later this year.
The NFL previously confirmed that Munich and Frankfurt will stage games in Germany over the next four years. The Chiefs and Patriots are part of the NFL’s International Home Marketing Area (IHMA) program, which sees teams secure international marketing rights in countries beyond the U.S., with both sides having been a rights inDetails of the dates, matchups and kickoff times will be confirmed later in the year when the full 2023 schedule is announced, according to the NFL.
This will be the second trip to London for both Buffalo and Tennessee, with the Bills having played there in 2015 and the Titans in 2018. The Jacksonville Jaguars, also an NFL IHMA side with marketing rights in the UK, will play their landmark 10th game in London this year. The Chiefs and the Patriots will make their debuts in Germany, following the inaugural international game there in Munich in 2022.
The 2022 International Games saw record-breaking attendances and viewership as ticket demand and fandom continue to grow for the League across the world.
“Growing the league and our sport internationally is a major strategic priority for the NFL, and we are excited to again be playing five games outside of the United States in 2023,” said Peter O’Reilly, NFL Executive Vice President, Club Business, Major Events & International.
“We know how important live regular season games are to our passionate global fans, and we thank our clubs for their strong, long-term commitment to this important initiative. Interest in our game globally is at an all-time high, and we look forward to returning to the UK and Germany in 2023 with some of the most iconic clubs and stars in the NFL.”
There will be no international game in Mexico in 2023 due to renovations taking place in Estadio Azteca in Mexico City.
O’Reilly added: “Mexico plays a critical role in the NFL’s international growth strategy, with its passionate and growing fan base. We remain committed to year-round engagement with our amazing Mexican fans and look forward to future games in Mexico.”
“We are proud to be selected to participate in our league’s international games in 2023 and continue to help grow our sport globally,” said Buffalo Bills EVP/Chief Operating Officer Ron Raccuia.
“The NFL has done an incredible job with this initiative. We’re excited for [the Bills to experience] Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, one of the primary design inspirations for our new stadium scheduled to open in 2026.”
“We could not be more excited to participate in a Germany game and introduce more of the world to the Chiefs Kingdom this fall,” said Chiefs Chairman and CEO Clark Hunt.
“Our team and our fans have had incredible experiences in London and Mexico City as part of the International Series in the past, and we look forward to helping the NFL in its effort to continue growing the game in Germany.”
Joseph Phillips is the Sports Editor for the Chicago Crusader Newspaper. He is a Chicago native, who has been a sports writer for over 17 years. He also hosts the SC Media News and Sports Network Q&A radio show on WHPK 88.5 FM Chicago.
