NFL International Series 2016 Locations: Mexico City Reportedly to Be Included

The National Football League is reportedly expected to include a game in Mexico City when it announces an extension of its International Series later this week. 

Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network first reported the news. Albert Breer of NFL.com previously noted the league was considering both Mexico and Germany as it looked to expand the series and NFL Executive Vice-President for International Mark Waller confirmed different options were being discussed.

"We feel confident in what we've learned in the U.K. to where we can look at adding a game and applying the model into another market," Waller said. "In the next few weeks, we'll decide on adding an extra game, going somewhere else, or both. We feel good about the U.K., but the idea of moving forward with other countries is attractive, too."

If the game in Mexico City is made official, it would mark the first time since 2005 the league played a game in Mexico. The "Futbol Americano" game between the San Francisco 49ers and Arizona Cardinals was the first regular-season contest held outside of the United States.

Last month, Ivis Aburto of AS reported Mexico was selected to host five regular-season games starting in 2017 or 2018. NFL spokesman Michael Signora told Pro Football Talk at the time that the talk was "premature."

Further details about next year's game weren't immediately released, so it's unclear whether the timeline has been moved up a year since the initial report or if next season's game will be a preseason contest before shifting toward regular-season games.

That said, it's no surprise the NFL continues to explore opportunities to expand into various global marketplaces. Commissioner Roger Goodell previously mentioned Brazil as a possible destination alongside Mexico and Germany, to go with the existing efforts in England.

The U.K. games are going to continue for the foreseeable future. The league signed a 10-year agreement with English Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur to host at least two games per season once their new stadium is completed in 2018.

That agreement, along with the expected Mexico announcement, is among several signs that games elsewhere around the globe will remain a chief focus for the NFL moving forward.