The NFL is returning to Germany for a fourth regular-season game. However, the games haven’t always been held in the same location.
Two different cities have hosted NFL games in Germany, so let’s break down each and which city and stadium the New York Giants and Carolina Panthers will be playing in today.
Which Cities in Germany Have Hosted NFL Games?
Today’s game will be played in Munich, Germany, at Allianz Arena, which also hosted the first-ever NFL game in Germany back in 2022 between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Seattle Seahawks.
Munich is the capital and most populous city of the Free State of Bavaria, Germany. It has the third-largest population (1,594,632) of any German city behind only Berlin and Hamburg, Germany.
The other city that has hosted NFL games is Frankfurt, Germany. It is the most populous city in the German state of Hesse. Frankfurt’s full name is Frankfurt am Main, which comes from the fact that the city is dissected by the river Main.
Globally, Frankfurt is best known as the biggest financial hub in continental Europe. It is the home of the European Central Bank, the Deutsche Bundesbank, many other large commercial banks, and the Frankfurt Stock Exchange. The two NFL games that were held in Frankfurt were played at the Waldstadion, which is also known as Deutsche Bank Park.
The Origin of International NFL Games
While the NFL International Series as we know it was created in 2007, the league started playing games overseas many years earlier, including multiple games in London back in the 1980s.
Between 1950 and 1983, 13 games involving NFL or AFL teams were played outside of the United States; seven of those games were against CFL teams in Canada. Three other games were also played in Canada — one in Toronto, two in Montreal — but they were against fellow NFL teams rather than outside opponents. The final three games were played in Tokyo in 1976, Mexico City in 1978, and London in 1983.
In 1986, the NFL launched the American Bowl, an annual preseason game that was held outside of the United States. The first-ever American Bowl was played in London on Aug. 3, 1986. Over the years, games were played in Japan, Canada, Germany, Spain, Mexico, Ireland, and Australia.
However, after the 2005 exhibition game between the Atlanta Falcons and Indianapolis Colts in Tokyo, the NFL decided to abandon the American Bowl.
At the same time, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell announced the end of NFL Europa, the league formerly known as the World League of American Football and NFL Europe. The final season of NFL Europa took place in 2007 — the same year the NFL started the International Series, which featured annual regular-season games in London. Previously, Frankfurt had an NFL Europa team (the Galaxy).
In recent years, the NFL expanded its International Series to five overseas games, including three in London, during the 2024 season.
Someday, we might even see an international Super Bowl, which is something Goodell has discussed.