NFL Returns to Mexico City for Another Historic Regular Season Game

NFL Returns to Mexico City for Another Historic Regular Season Game

The National Football League is preparing for another historic trip south, bringing one of its regular season games back to Mexico City. Commissioner Roger Goodell shared the news at the Leaders in Sport conference in London, describing the return as an exciting step for the league and for the Mexican fans who have embraced the sport with passion for decades.

The announcement rekindles anticipation in a country where football has been part of the cultural rhythm for years. The league last visited Mexico in 2022, when the San Francisco 49ers defeated the Arizona Cardinals at Estadio Azteca. Since then, the NFL has expanded its international presence in Europe and South America, but the bond with Mexico remains unmatched in its intensity and scale.

Mexico’s Unique Football Culture Is Great for the NFL

According to ESPN, Mexico has hosted five regular season games, including the first ever staged outside the United States in 2005. When the Cardinals beat the 49ers that night, more than 100,000 fans filled Estadio Azteca and turned the game into a celebration of identity as much as sport. The atmosphere left a lasting imprint on the league, proving that football could thrive abroad.

The games that followed reinforced this connection. Mexican fans welcomed Tom Brady and the New England Patriots in 2017, celebrated the Chiefs’ 2019 win over the Chargers, and packed the stadium again in 2022 for the 49ers’ victory against the Cardinals. The only interruption came in 2018, when poor field conditions forced a relocation, but even that did little to weaken enthusiasm.

For Mexican fans, these games carry a significance that extends past the field. Jerseys and flags are handed down like heirlooms, and watch parties often feel like family gatherings. The roar of the crowd in Mexico has consistently rivaled the atmosphere of the most iconic U.S. stadiums, creating a sense that the sport belongs equally to both nations.

Cowboys, 49ers, and the Pull of Mexican Fans

The Cowboys and 49ers, two of the league’s most storied franchises, have made no secret of their desire to return. Cowboys owner Jerry Jones has spoken about the depth of support his team enjoys in Mexico, describing it as something that feels essential to the franchise’s identity. For the 49ers, general manager John Lynch has reflected on the warmth and devotion felt across Mexico City during their last trip, admitting it left a powerful impression on the team.

Furthermore, ten teams now hold marketing rights in Mexico under the NFL’s global program, including the Cowboys, Steelers, Dolphins, Chiefs, and Raiders. Their continued investment ensures that the league’s presence extends through youth programs, community events, and brand partnerships, weaving football into everyday life in Mexico in ways that go far deeper than ticket sales.

Global Vision, Local Heart

The NFL has set records this season with seven international games and aims to increase that number significantly. Goodell has made clear that the league cannot call itself global without expanding past Europe and North America, pointing toward games in Australia and Asia as part of the plan. Yet Mexico remains central to this vision because of its history and the unique way fans have claimed the sport as their own.

Football in Mexico has become a cultural bridge, uniting generations of fans who see the NFL not as a foreign import but as a sport that thrives in their language, their celebrations, and their traditions. Each return to Mexico City strengthens that bond, turning the roar of Estadio Azteca into proof that American football has found a true second home.

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