The Santiago Bernabéu will soon become the arena for the first ever NFL league match in Spain. It is an event that will attract the attention of sports fans from all over the world, but will also confirm that the modernised Bernabéu stadium is ready for any challenge.

"A great honour for Real Madrid and Spain"

At the press conference held at Santiago Bernabéu, Real Madrid president Florentino Pérez spoke, highlighting the importance of the event: For us, it is a great honour that a competition of the prestige and size of the NFL has chosen the Bernabéu as its home. It is a huge source of pride for all of us, madridistas, madrileños and Spaniards, that Madrid and the Bernabéu can convey to the world everything that one of the most important sports in the United States represents Pérez said.

He also stressed that the stadium, which has undergone extensive modernisation, has become a symbol of avant-garde architecture and engineering, being the place where hosting global sporting events becomes a reality.

Tweet StadiumDB https://x.com/stadiumdb/status/1751645744778355140

— StadiumDB.com (@StadiumDB) February 1, 2024

More than football

The Santiago Bernabéu, following the completion of its redevelopment, has not only redefined the standards for football stadiums, but has also opened up to other sports. According to many experts, it was the venue's infrastructure and innovation that contributed to the NFL's decision to host the match in Spain.

Brett Gosper, the NFL's director for Europe and Asia-Pacific, expressed great satisfaction with the choice: We are thrilled to have the opportunity to play at the Bernabéu. Thank you so much for being our partners in this adventure. We want to share this sport with the world and we couldn't be more excited to host a game here next season. Madrid is a world centre for culture, art, entertainment and tourism stressed Gosper.

The first NFL game in Spain will be played by the Miami Dolphins, as announced by Pri Shumate, executive vice-president and global marketing director of the club: Thank you very much to Real Madrid for welcoming us to this great venue. It is an honour to be here on behalf of the Miami Dolphins. We couldn't be happier to play the first NFL game in Spain in this iconic stadium, in this beautiful home. We are in a unique position to attract American football fans - Shumate pointed out.

© Alecaom

No less enthusiastic about the event was the mayor of Madrid, José Luis Martínez-Almeida, who pointed out the strategic importance of the city in hosting international sporting events: We will be the best of the six cities to host an international NFL game. And we could not do it without the best showcase that Madrid has for the world: the Real Madrid club . This club has made a commitment to the city by redeveloping the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, creating an infrastructure that allows us to host events that would not otherwise be possible. We have the best venue for the best competitions said Martínez-Almeida.

Councillor for Culture, Tourism and Sport of the Community of Madrid, Mariano de Paco, added that the cooperation between Spain and the United States is an example of promoting sport as a tool for social and economic development.