The Miami Dolphins will play the first-ever regular-season NFL game in Madrid, Spain, at the iconic Bernabéu Stadium. The Dolphins will be the designated “home” team at Real Madrid’s stadium. The venue, which is used for soccer, will host its very first American football game. The stadium’s capacity is just over 78,000.
Miami Dolphins Will Host First NFL Game in Spain
Tom Garfinkel, the Dolphins’ vice chairman, president, and CEO, said, “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.” The Miami Dolphins and the Chicago Bears will play in this first-ever international matchup in Spain. The date of this game will be announced in the Spring of this year for next season.
“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,” said Brett Gosper, the league’s head of Europe and APAC. The Miami Dolphins are 2-5 in games outside the United States. The Dolphins have played five times in London and recently against the Kansas City Chiefs in Frankfurt, Germany.
The Miami Dolphins went 8-9 this past season and missed the playoffs. They need to make some changes this offseason to improve their team. The Dolphins recently let go of wide receiver coach and former Dolphin Wes Welker and special teams coordinator Danny Crossman. Head Coach Mike McDaniel will be staying in Miami for another season and hopes to make adjustments with the NFL draft coming and trades to improve the roster.
Final Thoughts
Bernabéu, is located in the heart of the Spanish capital and is the leading candidate to host the final of the 2030 World Cup. As of the 2025 season, the NFL can schedule up to eight league-operated regular-season games internationally. NFL League commissioner Roger Goodell said in October that Rio de Janeiro could also host a game. He also added that there’s “no doubt” that Ireland will get one soon. The league said last year it is also looking at Australia as a potential host in the future.
The Miami Dolphins are one of the most popular teams in the NFL, and fans all around the world are excited to see them play internationally. The NFL will also have other international games in the 2025 season in London and Berlin.
