The Indianapolis Colts have been named the home team for the NFL’s first regular season game in Berlin next season, the league announced Wednesday.
The game against Berlin, part of the NFL’s 2025 International Games, will be held at Olympic Stadium.
This will be the fifth regular season game to be played in Germany, which has also hosted NFL games in Munich and Frankfurt since the 2022 season.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers defeated the Seattle Seahawks in Munich in the NFL’s first regular season game in Germany in 2022.
“Germany is an important market for the NFL, with a continuously growing fan base and passion for the game,” NFL Germany general manager Alexander Steinfors said in a statement. “After four successful international matches in Munich and Frankfurt, we are excited to welcome the Colts as the designated team for the first-ever regular season match in Berlin in 2025. It has a lot of history and is a true testament to the league’s international expansion and growth.”
The Colts have played in Europe twice so far, including in 2023 in Frankfurt vs. the New England Patriots. The Colts’ opponent and the schedule for the game against Berlin will be announced at a later date.
“The NFL is making history in Berlin, and the Colts are proud to be a part of this groundbreaking event in one of the most historic cities in the world,” Colts owner Jim Irsay said in a statement. said. “The NFL has become a global brand, and we look forward to growing American football in Germany and expanding Colts Nation’s footprint around the world. For our partners, we offer a unique opportunity to engage with German companies, customers and enterprises” for fans this season and in the future. ”
From 1990 to 1994, the NFL hosted five American Bowl games at Olympic Stadium, and from 2003 to 2007 it was also the home of NFL Europe’s Berlin Thunder.
The NFL can schedule up to eight league-sponsored regular season games overseas in 2025. Two matches will be held in London at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and one in Madrid at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium. The New York Jets and Cleveland Browns are the designated teams at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
The Jacksonville Jaguars return to Wembley Stadium in London for a “home” game. So far, 55 NFL regular season games have been played around the world throughout the league’s history, with London, Munich, Frankfurt, Sao Paulo, Mexico City and Toronto all hosting games.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
