NFL may play 10 international games in 2027, hitting the CBA ceiling
An NFL executive vice president told reporters ahead of the league's first regular-season game in France that the league is weighing a plan to host 10 games outside the United States next season. That figure represents the upper limit permitted under the current collective bargaining agreement with players. The NFL has steadily grown its overseas schedule, moving from five games per season between 2022 and 2024, to seven in 2025, and nine in the current season. According to the report, the broader goal is to assemble a full international game package that could be sold to a broadcast partner, though exceeding the current cap would require player approval before the CBA expires in 2031.
Each additional European international game is also one fewer game that Fox and CBS can include in their Sunday afternoon windows, further diluting their packages (and not to mention Sunday Ticket).
Why it matters
For brands: Sponsors and advertisers tied to domestic broadcast windows could see reduced inventory as more games move to international markets.
For media: Each overseas game reduces the number of Sunday afternoon contests available to Fox and CBS, shrinking their broadcast windows and potentially weakening the value of their packages.
For athletes: Players would need to approve any CBA amendment to expand international games beyond the current cap, giving them direct leverage over the pace of the league's global growth.
Read the full story at Awful Announcing
Sources
- Awful Announcing · Drew Lerner: NFL considering maximum allowable number of international games next season, exec says
- Front Office Sports · Mark Maske: NFL’s Global Takeover Is Just Beginning
- Yahoo Sports: NFL’s Global Takeover Is Just Beginning
- Awful Announcing · Megan Armstrong: Roger Goodell identifies Tokyo as NFL’s next target for international game