Might NFL groups play one recreation overseas each season? Washington Commanders head coach Dan Quinn jokingly requested if there was a league consultant within the league earlier than he answered.
After a second of consideration, he got here again with a ‘why not?’ response. Positive, worldwide video games include their challenges, however he and soccer know by now that this factor is barely going to proceed rising and passports are solely going to proceed getting stamped.
His Commanders make historical past this weekend once they face the Miami Dolphins at Actual Madrid’s Bernabeu Stadium within the league’s first regular-season recreation to be performed in Madrid.
“Good question,” he stated. “We knew it hurts a little bit in the beginning of the week, but then as you get closer to game day, man, you’re ready to perform.
“In case you may do it, yeah, I believe there is a approach relying on the place you go, I suppose.”
Sunday’s match-up closes out a report slate of seven worldwide video games performed throughout the 2025 season. The league started in Sao Paulo, Brazil in Week One, earlier than heading to Dublin, enjoying thrice in London, making its debut in Berlin after which pitching up in Spain.
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has made no secret of his want to succeed in 16 worldwide video games per season, with Melbourne, Australia and Rio de Janeiro gearing as much as change into the most recent host cities throughout the 2026 marketing campaign. Mexico Metropolis is in the meantime set to rejoin the schedule after its hiatus on account of pre-World Cup stadium renovations, whereas each Paris and Asia are rumoured to be among the many subsequent locations.
“I personally like getting the team together,” Quinn added. “I don’t know if there’s a science behind that, but I know what that energy can look like when you connect.”
“You have to be thoughtful about it, about when you go and when you don’t. But so far I liked this feeling and the idea of leaving on the Monday night. Tuesday, you arrive here in the morning, tried to keep the players up, had a workout, could do some things, so then go to bed Tuesday night to get into a normal routine.”
Groups have sometimes travelled in midweek for worldwide video games, although the Los Angeles Rams bucked the pattern in October once they landed on Saturday, a day previous to their rampant 35-7 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars. Golf equipment are tinkering with their preparations to enjoying abroad, which comes with the problem of organising a makeshift headquarters.
“When you’re on a normal road trip, you practise at your own facility and then pack up and go play,” stated Quinn. “When you do an extended trip, now there’s, ‘where do I go for treatment? Where do I go for the recovery work, the locker room?’
“Discovering these areas and entering into that vibe, it takes a number of days. However you probably have a number of days of that, then you’ll find the routine. As any ball participant would say, routine is essential.”
The Commanders arrive 3-7 and on a five-game dropping streak as they tackle the Dolphins with out beginning quarterback Jayden Daniels, who will probably be changed by Marcus Mariota, and star vast receiver Terry McLaurin.
It comes as their first recreation abroad since their tie towards the Cincinnati Bengals at Wembley in London again in 2016.
The Miami Dolphins face the Washington Commanders on the iconic Bernabeu Stadium in Madrid, stay on Sky Sports activities NFL from 2pm (kick-off, 2.30pm). Get Sky Sports activities or stream with no contract on NOW.
