American football continues to expand its boundaries and Spain has become one of its next destinations. The NFL has confirmed that in 2025 an official game will be played at Bernabéu, in a historic event for the sport in our country.
However, the organization is already studying the possibility of expanding its presence in Spain, with the option of bringing a second game to Camp Nou once its renovations are completed in 2026.
The NFL Bets on Spain
The growth of the NFL outside the United States has been remarkable in recent years. Games in London, Munich, and Mexico have shown that the international audience is increasingly interested in this sport.
Now, with the confirmation of a game in Madrid in 2025, the league seeks to expand its market in Spain, where the number of followers has grown exponentially.
Peter O'Reilly, executive vice president of the NFL, has been clear about the importance of having top-tier stadiums to host these matches:
"Having a world-class stadium is an important factor for organizing an NFL game and will be key if there are conversations with FC Barcelona in the future," O'Reilly stated.
Although, for the moment, the focus is on the agreement with Real Madrid, the NFL doesn't close the door to a game in Barcelona.
Joan Laporta and Negotiations with the NFL
In recent months, information has emerged pointing to a conversation between Joan Laporta and the NFL to bring a game to Camp Nou. The president has shown interest in turning the stadium into a multipurpose venue capable of hosting top-level sporting events beyond soccer.
The agreement, however, will depend on several factors:
- Completion of Camp Nou renovations in 2026
- Barça's ability to offer a top-tier experience
- NFL's interest in expanding its market in Spain
If an agreement is reached, Barça could follow in Real Madrid's footsteps and bring one of the world's most important sporting events to Barcelona.
The Impact of an NFL Game in Barcelona
The arrival of the NFL at Camp Nou would be a commercial and image coup for FC Barcelona. The club has already demonstrated on several occasions its interest in attracting major sporting events to its stadium. The NFL could be a unique opportunity to position Barça in the U.S. market.
Additionally, this event would help generate additional revenue through ticket sales, television rights, and sponsorship deals. With the need to clean up the club's finances, a collaboration with the NFL could be key to Barça's financial future.
While the NFL game at Santiago Bernabéu is already a reality for 2025, the option for Camp Nou to follow this path will depend on the renovations. The scheduled date would be in 2026, once Barça has completed the remodeling of its stadium.
For now, negotiations remain open, and everything points to American football landing in Barcelona in the coming years. Laporta and Barça have already shown that they want to be in the elite of world sports, and the NFL could be the next big event to arrive at the new Camp Nou.