Berlin to host NFL regular season game in 2025

11.12.2024

Berlin will become the third German city to host a regular season NFL match from 2025, the US organisation and the capital's senate confirmed on Wednesday afternoon.

The game will be played at the Olympiastadion as part of a multi-year agreement that will allow the world's leading American Football division to stage eight games a year abroad.

Berlin follows in the footsteps of Munich and Frankfurt, which have hosted two games apiece. The first came at the Allianz Arena in November 2022, as NFL superstar Tom Brady's Tampa Bay Buccaneers defeated Seattle Seahawks 21-16, while the Carolina Panthers edged past the New York Giants 20-17 in overtime last month at the same ground.

Berlin will be the seventh city to host a regular season encounter after Mexico City, Toronto, London, São Paulo, the two German locations and Madrid, which will also host a fixture for the first time in 2025.

NFL legend Tom Brady played with his Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Munich's Allianz Arena in 2022. - IMAGO/kolbert-press/Christian Kolbert

While this will be the first official NFL match to be played at the Olympiastadion, the stadium does have a previous connection with the league, having hosted five American Bowls - a series of pre-season exhibition games - between 1990 and 1994. NFL Europe's Berlin Thunder also played their games there between 2003 and 2007.

"Germany has a rich tradition of American football, and the NFL has a deep history with the city of Berlin," said NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell. "We first held a preseason game at the Olympic Stadium 34 years ago, before it was home to NFL Europe's Berlin Thunder in the early 2000s.

"Now, with almost 20 million NFL fans in Germany, we'll make a historic return to the city playing a regular-season game for the first time as we open the next chapter in our relationship with Berlin."

Berlin Thunder played their NFL Europe matches at the Olympiastadion between 2003 and 2007. - Imago

"This long-term partnership with the NFL will continue to boost Berlin as a global sports metropolis, as well as excite fans at the Olympic Stadium," explained the Berlin Senator for the Interior and Sports Iris Spranger. "The 2025 NFL Berlin game means worldwide visibility, numerous international guests, increased tourism and high economic value across the city."

"We're looking forward to an incredible game and an ongoing successful partnership with the league, as we continue to strengthen the presence of American football throughout the state."

As part of this new agreement, the NFL will work work with the Berlin senate to grow and develop flag football - the non-contact format of the game that will be included in the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games - in Berlin's schools and clubs.