Friday, January 17th, 2025

DOLPHINS DESIGNATED FOR MADRID DEBUT

Craig Llewellyn

Editor

DOLPHINS DESIGNATED FOR MADRID DEBUT

Craig Llewellyn NFL

The Miami Dolphins will play as the designated ‘home’ team in the first-ever NFL regular season game in Spain the league has revealed.

The game will take place at the iconic Estadio Santiago Bernabéu, home of the famed Real Madrid, as the NFL extends the reach of its International Series to a third European country, after the U.K and Germany. The Cleveland Browns, New York Jets and Jacksonville Jaguars were last week confirmed as home teams for London, while the Indianapolis Colts were named to the first regular season game at Berlin’s Olympic Stadium.

The exciting first-ever game in Spain underlines the NFL’s continued commitment to expanding its global footprint and reaching new audiences across the world,” head of Europe and APAC at the NFL, Brett Gosper, acknowledged. “The Miami Dolphins playing at the Bernabéu Stadium showcases the global appeal of the league and of our sport in what promises to be a historic moment.”

The Dolphins, along with the Chicago Bears, hold marketing rights in Spain as part of the league’s Global Markets Programme and have become regular visitors to Europe, having played five regular season games in London and one in Frankfurt, as well as Toronto.

We are thrilled to play the NFL’s inaugural game in Spain, a country of rich history, tradition and passion and home to a vibrant Dolphins fanbase,” said Miami Dolphins vice-chairman, president and CEO Tom Garfinkel. “There is a hunger for football in this market, and we are proud to join with the NFL in growing the game internationally while engaging with old and new fans alike. With the unique synergy between Miami and Madrid, we believe this is only the beginning for us in this incredible region and we look forward to bringing the excitement and community of Dolphins football to Spain in 2025 and beyond.”

NFL Flag — the NFL’s official programme for non-contact football — was launched in Spain just last year, with the Federación Española de Fútbol Americano (FEFA), showcasing the league’s efforts to increase participation and inspire the next generation as flag football heads toward its debut as an Olympic sport at LA28.

This partnership with the NFL will bring one of the world’s most prestigious sporting competitions to the Santiago Bernabéu, a stadium which has welcomed millions of passionate fans from around the globe to enjoy incredible sporting experiences,” Real Madrid institutional relations director, and former international soccer player, Emilio Butragueño noted.

The Dolphins’ opponent, along with game date and kickoff time, will be announced when the full 2025 NFL schedule is revealed this spring.

Fans can register for information around the 2025 NFL Madrid game here: nfl.com/madrid.

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