The NFL has confirmed that the Washington Commanders will face the Miami Dolphins on November 16 at the Estadio Santiago Bernabéu, as part of Week 11 of the regular season. It will be the first-ever NFL game played in Spain.

We’re thrilled to welcome the Washington Commanders to Spain for our first regular season game in Madrid, a truly iconic global city, said Brett Gosper, NFL Head of Europe and Asia-Pacific. This historic clash between the Dolphins and Commanders shows our commitment to growing American football internationally. We can’t wait to share this event with fans in Spain and around the world.

For the first time, the world’s premier American football league will hold an official regular season matchup on Spanish soil. The game will be hosted by Real Madrid’s Santiago Bernabéu, with the Miami Dolphins (the designated home team) going up against the Washington Commanders, one of last season’s surprise packages. The Commanders, formerly known as the Redskins, reached the NFC Championship Game in 2024 – their first appearance there since 1991 – led by the electric Jayden Daniels, the No. 2 pick in the 2022 draft, who delivered a breakout rookie season. They knocked out the Buccaneers and Lions before falling to the eventual champions, the Eagles.

It’s an honor to represent the Washington area on the global stage in the NFL’s first-ever game in Spain, said Josh Harris, Commanders co-owner. Playing at the iconic Bernabéu is a chance to gain new fans and bring Commanders football to one of the most passionate sports cities in the world.

While Madrid grabs the spotlight, Barcelona may soon follow. The Kansas City Chiefs, three-time Super Bowl winners in the last five years, have officially named Spain one of their key international markets. That has sparked speculation that the Chiefs could open the renovated Spotify Camp Nou with a future NFL game in Barcelona. There’s no confirmation yet, but FC Barcelona is eager not to be left behind. Once the stadium works are completed, the club hopes to join the list of hosts for pro American football in Europe.

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