The Miami Dolphins will play within the NFL’s first-ever regular-season recreation in Spain when Madrid hosts a matchup subsequent season at iconic Bernabéu Stadium, the league introduced Friday.
The Dolphins would be the designated “dwelling” workforce at Actual Madrid ‘s venue, which incorporates a soccer pitch that retracts to make approach for a area that can be utilized for American soccer. It has a capability of simply over 78,000.
“We’re thrilled to play the NFL’s inaugural recreation in Spain, a rustic of wealthy historical past, custom and keenness and residential to a vibrant Dolphins fanbase,” mentioned Tom Garfinkel, the Dolphins’ vice chairman, president and CEO.
The date of the sport and Miami’s opponent might be introduced this spring.
¡Nos vemos en Madrid! 🇪🇸
We might be internet hosting the NFL’s first recreation in Madrid subsequent season. pic.twitter.com/vfBltXlzkR
— Miami Dolphins (@MiamiDolphins) January 17, 2025
The Dolphins and the Chicago Bears maintain advertising and marketing rights in Spain as a part of the league’s world markets program, which permits groups to carry occasions and signal industrial offers in these places.
“The thrilling first-ever recreation in Spain underlines the NFL’s continued dedication to increasing its world footprint and reaching new audiences the world over,” mentioned Brett Gosper, the league’s head of Europe and APAC.
Miami missed the playoffs this season after going 8-9.
The Dolphins are 2-5 in video games performed exterior the US and have misplaced their previous 4 worldwide video games, principally lately in Frankfurt, Germany, in 2023, once they misplaced 21-14 to the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs. Miami has performed 5 instances in London and as soon as in Toronto.
Miami’s 2025 schedule options dwelling video games in opposition to its AFC East rivals — the Buffalo Payments, New England Patriots and New York Jets — in addition to the Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, New Orleans Saints, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Los Angeles Chargers, and Washington Commanders.
The NFL has been aggressively increasing its world footprint seeking new followers and income streams. Partnering with one of the crucial profitable soccer golf equipment on the earth is a branding bonanza.
“This partnership with the NFL will convey one of many world’s most prestigious sporting competitions to the Santiago Bernabéu, a stadium which has welcomed thousands and thousands of passionate followers from across the globe to get pleasure from unimaginable sporting experiences,” mentioned Actual Madrid institutional relations director Emilio Butragueño.
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Bernabéu, positioned within the coronary heart of the Spanish capital, is a number one candidate to host the ultimate of the 2030 World Cup.
As of the 2025 season, the NFL can schedule as much as eight league-operated regular-season video games internationally.
London will stage three video games subsequent season — two at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and one at Wembley Stadium. The Jets and Cleveland Browns are the house groups at Tottenham; and the Jacksonville Jaguars at Wembley.
Berlin can even host a regular-season recreation for the primary time with the Indianapolis Colts the house workforce at Olympic Stadium.
Final September, the Philadelphia Eagles beat the Inexperienced Bay Packers 34-29 in Sao Paulo, Brazil — within the NFL’s first recreation in South America.
League commissioner Roger Goodell mentioned in October that Rio de Janeiro might additionally host a recreation, and he added that there is “little question” that Eire will get one quickly.
The league mentioned final 12 months it is usually taking a look at Australia as a possible host sooner or later.
