The NFL is an American sport. It always will be. Nothing in entertainment is a bigger, safer bet to succeed than NFL football games. They draw big, both in person and on TV.
Naturally, Roger Goodell's league wants to expand its footprint internationally. There's growing interest for NFL games in Europe, Asia, South America, etc. The league has been playing games overseas for more than a decade. There's even been talk of moving some teams - and even the Super Bowl - overseas.
As we head into the 2026 NFL regular season, the league is doubling down on its international games. So far, the league has confirmed nine major international games for the upcoming season. We'll have one in Week 1, one in Week 3, three from Week 4 to Week 6, one in Week 7, one in Week 9, one in Week 10 and one in Week 11.
That's a lot.
NFL fans are fed up. It's too much.
"We have to chill with these international games. No one wants 9am football every week," one fan wrote.
"Hate this. Just saying. What's wrong with keeping the games here? Greedy Godell that question is for you," another fan wrote.
"Pure greed. The fans don't want this. The players don't want this. Hard to believe the teams losing a home game want this. Nothing but greed," one fan added.
It's not just fans that are bothered by this. The players and coaches don't like it, either.
NFL players, coaches speak out against international games
49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan, whose team will be playing abroad in Week 1, made it clear that he sees no "pro" for his team to play internationally.
"I don't see any pro [for us]," he said earlier this year. "It's cool for the league to play globally. I think that's awesome. But as far as the team doing it, no, there's not much benefit to it. Sometimes it's nice to get a bye week after but doesn't happen in Week 1."
Former NFL star J.J. Watt is among those speaking out, as well.
"International game slate is nearing the realm of traveling circus as opposed occasional showcase," he wrote on X.
Longtime NFL star Kyle Van Noy agreed.
"It's all they care about in my opinion because it's the biggest growth which means money. YouTube , Amazon, and all the streaming services are global. They going for it all JJ! Will be interesting seeing the game in the future where I'm sure teams will play multiple games overseas," he wrote.
The NFL isn't going to stop playing games overseas, obviously. But perhaps reining it in a bit would be wise.
At a certain point, the NFL risks losing its core audience - American fans - by putting too much of a priority on games overseas.
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