NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has an answer for German fans wondering about rumors the league could be heading to their capital city of Berlin: "Believe it." The NFL played its first regular-season game in Germany in Munich in 2022, then two games in Frankfurt the following year. Munich is hosting Sunday's game between the New York Giants and Carolina Panthers, the fifth and last overseas game of the season, the AP reports. "I usually tell people, 'Don't believe rumors.' In this case, I might say, 'Believe it.' We're working on it, but it isn't finalized," Goodell said in a pregame Q-and-A with fans in Munich. "But I want to add that does not mean we're not going to be back in Frankfurt and Munich," he said.
German news agency dpa and broadcaster RTL both reported Saturday that the Berlin city government was discussing plans for a game. Berlin wasn't one of the German cities that initially bid to host regular-season games. The three finalists selected in 2021 were Frankfurt, Munich and Duesseldorf, which has not hosted a game. Team owners voted in December to authorize the league to host eight games internationally each season, though Goodell has said he has a long-term target of 16 per season. NBC Sports points out that would probably become a separate TV package. The league hosted its first game in Brazil this season and is heading to Spain for the first time next year with a game in Madrid. London hosted three games this season.
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