NFL owners poised to approve expansion of international fixtures for 2027 season

NFL owners are expected to vote at this week’s league meeting in Orlando to approve the addition of two international games to the 2027 season schedule. The proposal would increase the total number of international fixtures from nine in the 2026 season to 11, marking a significant expansion of the league’s global footprint.

The vote is facilitated by a specific exception within the current Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), which generally caps the number of international games at 10 per year. This provision allows for additional matches when a team is unable to utilise its regular home stadium. The Jacksonville Jaguars are set to utilise this exception in 2027, as renovations to EverBank Stadium will render the venue unusable for home games during that period.

Under the proposed plan, the Jaguars will play one international match at Wembley Stadium in London. To accommodate the remainder of their home schedule, the team will utilise Camping World Stadium in Orlando as their temporary home field. This logistical arrangement underscores the operational complexities involved in expanding the league’s international presence while managing domestic infrastructure constraints.

The 2026 season is already scheduled to feature nine international games, with matches planned across multiple global cities. Current fixtures for this year include games in Melbourne, Rio, London, Madrid, Paris, Munich, and Mexico City. The potential increase to 11 games in 2027 would represent a notable shift in the league’s strategic approach to international markets.

While the vote is described as expected, it remains subject to formal approval by the league’s ownership group. The outcome will determine the final structure of the 2027 international slate and the extent to which the CBA’s exceptions are utilised to facilitate global expansion.