The Kansas City Chiefs and the Green Bay Packers, two of the most decorated teams in American football, have been granted rights to market themselves in Ireland as part of the NFL's Global Markets Program (GMP).
Launched in 2022, the GMP awards NFL teams international marketing rights to build brand awareness and fandom outside the US through fan engagement, events, commercial opportunities and flag football development.
A total of 29 teams will engage in 21 international markets this year, up from 25 in 19 markets in 2024.
The Chiefs and Packers join the Jacksonville Jaguars, New York Jets and Pittsburgh Steelers in holding rights to market in Ireland, and the Steelers are due to play at Croke Park later this year in what will be the first competitive NFL game to take place in Ireland.
“Ireland continues to be an important market for the NFL, as we look to play our first-ever regular season game in 2025 at Croke Park in Dublin,” said Henry Hodgson, general manager of NFL UK & Ireland.
“The Chiefs and the Packers are fantastic additions to our Global Markets Program teams in-market, providing continuous opportunities for fans to engage with our sport and with the NFL as we grow across the country.”
This will be the first year that the Packers take part in the GMP, and the Wisconsin-based team has been granted rights to Germany, Ireland and the UK.
They join the Baltimore Ravens (UK), Los Angeles Chargers (Greece), and Washington Commanders (UAE) as the new entrants to the GMP in 2025.
Nine teams have been granted rights to new markets. They are the Chiefs (Spain, Ireland, UK) Arizona Cardinals (Canada), Detroit Lions (Brazil), Indianapolis Colts (Switzerland), Las Vegas Raiders (Australia, New Zealand), Los Angeles Rams (UAE), Philadelphia Eagles (Brazil), San Francisco 49ers (UAE), and Seattle Seahawks (Australia, New Zealand).
NFL clubs can apply for rights to international markets by submitting proposals to the International Committee for review each spring.
NFL
The Kansas City Chiefs and Green Bay Packers can now market themselves to fans in Ireland under NFL rules.
Teams are awarded rights for a five-year term through the GMP, during which time they can pursue activities that are consistent with what they can do at home in their awarded international markets.
The opposition and the date for the Steelers game at Croke Park will be announced this spring. There will also be NFL matches played in Berlin, Madrid, London and Sao Paulo this year.
Photo: Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) and tight end Travis Kelce (87) celebrate after a touchdown. (Pic: Scott Winters/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)