The National Football League will play its first-ever regular-season game in Ireland in 2025 as it expands its global footprint around the world.
The 2025 NFL game will take place at Croke Park in partnership with the Government and Dublin City Council.
The Pittsburgh Steelers will play as the designated home team. Steelers president Art Rooney II and his family have a rich history and deep connection with the Island of Ireland, having family from Newry, County Down.
The late Dan M. Rooney, Art Rooney's father, served as U.S. ambassador to Ireland from 2009-2012 and was a co-founder of the Ireland Funds charity.
The Steelers are also one of only two NFL teams to have played a game in Ireland to date, a preseason matchup in 1997 against the Chicago Bears at Croke Park as part of the American Bowl series.
"We are delighted to officially bring a regular-season NFL game to Ireland as part of our 2025 International Games slate," said executive vice president of international, league events and club business at the NFL Peter O'Reilly. "Both the NFL and the Steelers franchise have deep roots and history in Ireland, and we're looking forward to making our regular-season debut in Dublin, bringing our game to a large and passionate Irish fan base and underlining the NFL's commitment to global growth."
"We are very excited to be the designated team in the first regular-season game to be played in Ireland this upcoming season," said Steelers president Art Rooney II. "The opportunity for the Pittsburgh Steelers to play in Ireland is truly special, not only because of the Rooney family history there, but also to play in front of the growing number of Steelers fans in Ireland. We are thrilled to be part of this historic event to represent Pittsburgh in a game that brings the NFL to the great sports fans in Ireland."
"This is a major vote of confidence in Ireland's ability to host world class events and in Dublin's reputation as one of the most welcoming cities in the world," said Minister for Arts, Media, Communications, Culture and Sport Patrick O'Donovan TD. "Hosting a regular-season NFL game in 2025 will have huge benefits for Irish tourism, the wider economy and our sports ecosystem. It will also build upon the deep cultural, family and economic ties between Ireland and the United States. I look forward to welcoming thousands of American football fans from the U.S., Europe and further afield to our shores for this historic game, and also to the ongoing collaboration with the NFL, Sport Ireland and American Football Ireland to grow American football participation in Ireland, both the tackle and flag format of the game, as part of the government's commitment to increasing the number of people regularly participating in sport and physical activity."
