Should the NFL Look Beyond London for UK Games?
By just about every metric possible, the NFL’s annual sojourn to London for a handful of regular-season games has been a success. When the LA Rams and Jacksonville Jaguars players trudged off the field at Wembley Stadium in October 2025, it was the completion of the 42nd NFL regular-season game held in the UK. Almost everyone was a sell-out, and none have ever had fewer than 60,000 fans in attendance. All of them, of course, have been held in London.
The NFL’s penetration into the UK market has been successful beyond the novelty of hosting those games every year. UK fans enjoy broadcast coverage just as comprehensive as US fans. They are engaged across social media, including with the NFL’s dedicated “UK and Ireland” channels. They will bet on the Super Bowl with as much gusto as they would on the Grand National or FA Cup Final. It’s a veritable 51st state for the NFL.
Yet, the UK’s sporting infrastructure is among the best in the world. And its sporting heritage is unmatched. But it does not start and stop with the capital city. Here are some other cities and stadiums that would be fine hosts for the NFL, and that would help the league grow its presence outside of London:
Manchester
Old Trafford, home of Manchester United, might be a creaking old ship, but its capacity exceeds that of stadiums like Caesars Superdome and Levi’s Stadium, both of which are deemed good enough for contemporary Super Bowls. It’s also iconic and well accustomed to hosting world-class events. If Old Trafford is deemed to be too old, then across the city, the Etihad, home of Manchester City, has a similar capacity (60K+) to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, which hosts the majority of London NFL games. It’s modern and ticks every box the London venues do.
Edinburgh
Scotland is a market where the NFL still has to make some inroads, so bringing the roadshow to somewhere like Murrayfield (67,000 capacity) would be an interesting tactic. It’s primarily a rugby venue and has hosted major events like the Champions Cup Final before, but it would be an excellent option for the NFL. That said, the late autumn weather in Edinburgh doesn’t tend to be pleasant.
Cardiff
The Principality Stadium in Wales is a world-class venue that has hosted everything from Champions League Finals to Rugby World Cup Finals to major WWE events. Cardiff is an excellent city for sports fans, too, full of fun bars and cafes that add to the city’s vibrant atmosphere when a major event is being held at the Principality. Like Scotland, Wales is a relatively untapped market for the NFL.
Liverpool
While Manchester might be the preference for the NFL if choosing the Northwest of England, Liverpool certainly has its charms. It’s a sports-mad city, and it could offer the iconic Anfield as a host for an NFL game. Anfield was built in 1884, but more recent renovations mean it’s not as leaky as Old Trafford. It can hold over 60,000 fans, too. While slightly smaller in capacity, the Hill Dickinson Stadium, home of Everton, is as modern as it gets, having just opened its doors in 2025.
Newcastle/Sunderland
Newcastle and Sunderland fans will never forgive us for lumping together, as the rival cities enjoy a soccer enmity for the ages. Yet, the Northeast of England has cracking venues, including St James’ Park and Sunderland’s Stadium of Light. Both stadiums would meet the standards for the NFL in terms of capacity and facilities, and the teams would get to play in front of some of the most passionate sports fans in the UK.
