NFL: Historic first regular season game to be played in Dublin

The NF: will play its first-ever regular season game in Ireland in 2025.

The 2025 NFL Dublin game will take place at Croke Park in partnership with the Government of Ireland and Dublin City Council (Dublin City).

The Pittsburgh Steelers will play as the designated team for the historic first game. Steelers’ president Art Rooney II and his family have a rich history and deep connection with the island of Ireland, having family from Newry in County Down.

The late Dan M. Rooney, Art Rooney’s father, served as U.S. ambassador to Ireland from 2009-2012 and was a co-founder of the Ireland Funds charity.

The Steelers are also one of only two NFL teams to have played a game in Ireland to date, a preseason matchup in 1997 against the Chicago Bears at Croke Park as part of the American Bowl series.

“We are delighted to officially bring a regular season NFL game to Ireland as part of our 2025 International Games slate,” said Executive Vice President International, League Events and Club Business at the NFL Peter O'Reilly.

“Both the NFL and the Steelers franchise have deep roots and history in Ireland, and we’re looking forward to making our regular-season debut in Dublin, bringing our game to a large and passionate Irish fan base and underlining the NFL’s commitment to global growth.”

“We are very excited to be the designated team in the first regular season game to be played in Ireland this upcoming season,” said Steelers’ President Art Rooney II.

“The opportunity for the Pittsburgh Steelers to play in Ireland is truly special, not only because of the Rooney family history there, but also to play in front of the growing number of Steelers fans in Ireland. We are thrilled to be part of this historic event to represent Pittsburgh in a game that brings the NFL to the great sports fans in Ireland.”

“We are absolutely delighted to welcome the NFL and the Pittsburgh Steelers to Croke Park,” said GAA President, Jarlath Burns.

“This event will not only highlight our stadium's world-class facilities but also reinforce the connections and love of sport shared between our communities. Croke Park is a proud symbol of Ireland’s rich sporting heritage, and hosting one of the world’s best sporting organisations is a momentous occasion for the entire country. It will be a special and unique event, celebrating the passion uniting two great sporting codes in the heart of Dublin.”

The full matchup including opposition, date and kickoff time will be announced when the 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 at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium — the only purpose-built NFL stadium outside of the U.S. — featuring the New York Jets and the Cleveland Browns as designated teams.

The Jacksonville Jaguars will also 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, Germany at the Olympic Stadium Berlin, with the Indianapolis Colts as the designated team and one game in Madrid, Spain at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium – Home to Real Madrid C.F., featuring the Miami Dolphins.

This week at Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans, the NFL also announced its first regular season game for the 2026 season, in Melbourne, Australia. The Los Angeles Rams will be the designated team for this historic game at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).

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.

The Steelers have previously played in one regular season game internationally in London in 2013, at Wembley Stadium.

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