NFL Rumors: 'Multiple' Teams 'Badly Want to Play in' 1st Game in Germany

After the success of playing football games in London and Mexico City, the NFL is hoping to expand its international series to Germany starting in 2022.

Even though the details of the expansion have not yet been finalized, Pro Football Talk's Peter King reported Monday that "multiple" teams "badly" want to be a part of the historic first game in Germany.

"There are multiple NFL teams that badly want to play in that first German game and want to take advantage of the hunger of German fans," King wrote. "It’s the fastest-growing international market."

The NFL originally requested proposals for future games in Germany in June. According to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, the league will announce the three finalist cities Tuesday. 

The popularity of the NFL has been growing in Germany in recent years, and the league is ready to take advantage of that, according to King.

"The country had a Super Bowl audience of three million, according to NFL rating figures," King said. "Interesting: There’s a German iteration of NFL RedZone, with 200,000 German subscribers. There’s money to be made in Germany, and the NFL will work to mine it."

With the expansion of the regular season to 17 games, NFL owners also agreed to a new scheduling system for international games, with at least four every season starting in 2022. Each team will have the chance to host an international game once every eight seasons.

The NFL was forced to cancel its five international games in 2020 (four in London, one in Mexico City) because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The New York Jets and Atlanta Falcons played the first international game in nearly two years on Sunday in London, with the Falcons coming out on top 27-20 at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

The NFL will return to London in Week 6, with the Miami Dolphins taking on the Jacksonville Jaguars.