NFL fans slammed reports of a potential game in Saudi Arabia, criticizing the league for prioritizing profit over principles and ignoring its fanbase
17:51 ET, 17 Oct 2025Updated 17:51 ET, 17 Oct 2025
The NFL takes its game to Riyadh with Tom Brady and stars
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The NFL takes its game to Riyadh with Tom Brady and stars(Image: Getty)
The NFL is facing a firestorm of backlash as rumors swirl that the league may bring a game — possibly even a regular-season contest — to Saudi Arabia.
The catalyst: the announcement of a Tom Brady-led flag football tournament in Riyadh, which many view as a stepping stone toward deeper NFL involvement in the Kingdom, although Brady denied that he will make $75 million from the event.
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In March 2026, the Fanatics Flag Football Classic will take place in Riyadh, featuring current and former NFL stars, despite the NFL sending a stark warning to active players about participating in the tournament.
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The showcase is being positioned not just as spectacle, but as part of the league’s push to globalize, especially with flag football slated for the 2028 Olympics.Saudi officials have already expressed ambitions to host full NFL regular-season games in the country, comparing themselves to nations like England and Brazil that have hosted NFL matchups.
But the plan has blown up on social media and among fan communities, where criticism is sharp and widespread.
One Reddit user wrote: “I wouldn’t be shocked if sometime soon Saudi Arabia or Qatar host an international game, which would be a new low for the greedy NFL.”
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Fans accused the league of putting profits over integrity. Another user wrote: “Can someone in one of these leagues and entertainment industries grow a spine and say ‘no’ to the money?”
The sentiment of disillusionment was echoed throughout the thread. Some fans expressed that such a decision would be their breaking point.
“I’ve been a football fan all my life,” one wrote, “but that would be the end of it for me. If the NFL caves to Saudi Arabia, I’m out.” Another simply commented, “Same. This is some f---ing b-------.”
Other users criticized what they called “sportswashing” — Saudi Arabia’s strategy of hosting Western sports to soften its international reputation despite human rights concerns. “They’ve sportwashed boxing, UFC, golf,” one Redditor wrote. “Football is next. Riyadh Season presents the NFL.”
The NFL has played games in Brazil
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The NFL has played games in Brazil(Image: Getty)
Even foreign fans weighed in on what the move says about American sports culture. One commenter from Europe wrote:
“As a foreigner who has lived over the pond and seen American sports with outsider eyes, I genuinely don’t think there is any line for fans of US sport. The games have been commercialized for so long that audiences will tolerate anything, even moving half the fixtures overseas.”
Amid the mockery and anger, a few users noted the harsh irony of the league possibly staging a game in a country with strict laws against alcohol and public conduct. “Imagine going to an NFL game and not a single beer is sold,” one wrote.
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Whether or not the NFL actually commits to a game in Saudi Arabia remains uncertain. But the online reaction shows just how unpopular the idea already is. As one top comment summed it up: “This is f---ing awful. It’s our sport — stop selling it out to the highest bidder."