Bundesliga extends NFL partnership as it seeks US expansion
The NFL has played five regular-season games in Germany at Bundesliga stadiums; the renewal's duration was not disclosed.
The Bundesliga and the NFL have extended their partnership, first signed in 2022, with Bundesliga CEO Steffen Merkel linking the renewal to the German league's expansion in the United States.
“The renewal of our MOU with the NFL is a pivotal step in the Bundesliga’s continued expansion in the United States,” Merkel said.
Merkel added that the partnership “plays a key role in our overall growth strategy in the US market.”
The leagues will continue joint work on innovation and digital and experiential marketing under the extended Memorandum of Understanding, the Bundesliga said. The agreement also covers opportunities to produce content across both sports. The leagues will exchange best practices and help stage NFL games and Bundesliga projects as they seek to offer fans new experiences worldwide.
One earlier collaboration took place in the Swiss Alps, where former NFL kicker Adam Vinatieri kicked a field goal from 3,454 metres above sea level on Sept. 22. The kick earned Vinatieri an official Guinness World Records title, with former Bundesliga player Giovane Elber holding the ball.
“The partnership between the NFL and the Bundesliga demonstrates the value of bringing two of the world’s leading sports leagues together,” NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said.
Goodell said the extension would allow the leagues to continue learning from one another while seeking fresh ways to expand their sports in Germany, the United States and elsewhere. He also pointed to new experiences for fans.
The NFL has played five regular-season games in Germany over the past four years, the Bundesliga said. The games took place at the Bundesliga stadiums of FC Bayern München in Munich, Eintracht Frankfurt and Hertha Berlin.
The partners have held physical and digital events in the United States. In December 2025, former Bayern player Rafinha joined former New England Patriots players Brian Hoyer and Sebastian Vollmer at a watch party before the Patriots hosted the Buffalo Bills.
At the 2026 NFL Draft in Pittsburgh, former Borussia Dortmund player Patrick Owomoyela announced the Pittsburgh Steelers' sixth-round pick. Former players Claudio Pizzaro and Roman Weidenfeller represented the Bundesliga at the last two Super Bowls, in New Orleans and San Francisco.
The NFL work is part of the Bundesliga's long-term U.S. growth strategy, the league said. The strategy also includes a 17-year collaboration with Relevent Sports that covers areas including media rights and localized content.
Yahoo Sports reported that German stadiums could host more NFL games in future seasons, though Bundesliga matches in the United States are not under discussion. The outlet also reported that fans can expect stars from the leagues to collaborate at major events in the future.
The agreement's duration and any financial terms were not immediately known.
The next NFL game in Germany will bring the Detroit Lions and New England Patriots to Munich's Allianz Arena on Nov. 15, according to Bayern fan site FCBinside.
