The NFL’s desire to grow its reach overseas will continue in 2025.
On Friday, the league announced that the Miami Dolphins will play in the NFL’s first-ever regular-season game in Spain. The Dolphins will be the “home” team in Madrid, with the big game set to take place at the legendary Bernabéu Stadium — home of Real Madrid.
The recently renovated stadium has a capacity of over 78,000 and features a retractable field that will allow a NFL-sized surface to replace Real Madrid’s normal pitch. The date of the game will be announced this spring.
“We are thrilled to play the NFL’s inaugural game in Spain, a country of rich history, tradition and passion and home to a vibrant Dolphins fanbase,” said Tom Garfinkel, the Dolphins’ vice chairman, president and CEO.
“The exciting first-ever game in Spain underlines the NFL’s continued commitment to expanding its global footprint and reaching new audiences across the world,” said Brett Gosper, the league’s head of Europe and APAC.
Miami’s opponent has yet to be revealed, but the Dolphins figure to be the local favorite. Alongside the Chicago Bears, the Dolphins hold marketing rights in Spain as part of the league’s global markets program. The program allows teams to sign commercial deals and hold events in foreign markets.
The Dolphins are no stranger to games outside the United States. In 2023, Miami faced Kansas City in Frankfurt, Germany — ultimately losing by a score of 21-14. Overall, the Dolphins are 2-5 in international games. In Madrid, the Dolphins will face one of these teams: the Jets, Patriots, Bills, Bengals, Ravens, Saints, Chargers, Commanders or Buccaneers.
“This partnership with the NFL will bring one of the world’s most prestigious sporting competitions to the Santiago Bernabéu, a stadium which has welcomed millions of passionate fans from around the globe to enjoy incredible sporting experiences,” said Real Madrid institutional relations director Emilio Butragueño.
