‘Bienvenido A Madrid’: Dolphins Claim First NFL Regular Season Game In Spain
Friday, January 17, 2025 at 01:01PM By Barry Janoff
January 17, 2025: For the NFL, the game in Spain reigns mainly with Miami’s claim.
As proclaimed on the NFL Madrid Web site, “Los Miami Dolphins han sido designados como el equipo anfitrión para el Partido de la NFL en Madrid 2025” (“Miami Dolphins announced as designated team for 2025 NFL Madrid Game”).
The 2025 NFL Madrid game will take place in 78.000-seat Bernabéu Stadium — home to Spanish soccer team Real Madrid C.F. — in partnership with the city of Madrid and Comunidad de Madrid as part of the NFL’s 2025 International Games.
“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,” Brett Gosper, NFL head of Europe and Asia-Pacific, said via the league.
“The Miami Dolphins playing at the Bernabéu Stadium, home to Real Madrid C.F., showcases the global appeal of the league and of our sport, in what promises to be a historic moment.”
The game supports the Dolphins presence in Spain, which, along with the Chicago Bears, hold marketing rights in the county as part of the league’s Global Markets Program.
The initiative awards NFL clubs international marketing rights to build brand awareness and fandom beyond the U.S., through fan engagement, events and commercial opportunities.
“With the unique synergy between Miami and Madrid, we believe this is only the beginning for us in this incredible region,” Tom Garfinkel, Dolphins vice chairman, president and CEO, said via the team.
“We look forward to bringing the excitement and community of Dolphins football to Spain in 2025 and beyond.”
Granted marketing rights in Spain in December 2021, the team has “worked over the past several years to engage with fans in the market through watch parties, alumni appearances, and Spanish-language content,” according to the NFL.
Among the Dolphins Global Markets Program efforts, the team said it has been “cultivating strong fan clubs through watch parties and activations in Spain.”
NFL Flag — the NFL’s official program for non-contact football — was launched in Spain in 2024 with the Dolphins and Federación Española de Fútbol Americano, “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.”
The team also has Global Markets Program rights in Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Mexico and the U.K., and “now holds marketing rights in more Spanish-speaking countries than any other team in the NFL,” the league said.
According to the NFL, “Through strategic influencer partnerships and major events like the NFL Experience in São Paulo, the Dolphins continue to spearhead efforts in advancing the growth of the game worldwide and fostering a global community of Dolphins fans, which will continue in advance of the team's journey to Madrid in 2025.”
The upcoming game will be the team's eighth regular season international game and fourth in a new country, following previous international games in Frankfurt, Germany (2023), London (2021, 2017, 2015, 2014, 2007) and Canada (2008).
The Dolphins’ opponent, along with game date and kickoff time, will be shared when the full 2025 NFL schedule is revealed this spring.
Beginning in 2025, the NFL can schedule up to eight league-operated regular season games internationally.
The NFL will play two regular season games in London in Tottenham Hotspur Stadium featuring the New York Jets and Cleveland Browns as designated teams.
The Jacksonville Jaguars will return to Wembley Stadium in London to operate a home game, their 14th in the city, as part of their multi-year commitment to playing a game in the U.K
The league will also host one game in Berlin in the Olympic Stadium Berlin, with the Indianapolis Colts as the designated team.
Fifty-five regular season NFL games have been played around the world throughout the league's history, with London, Munich, Frankfurt, São Paulo, Mexico City and Toronto all hosting games to date.
“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 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.”
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