National Football League will return to Santiago Bernabéu Stadium after last year’s major organizational and commercial success. League officials were highly impressed by the atmosphere and the modern infrastructure of Real Madrid CF’s stadium, leading the NFL to quickly confirm another regular-season game in Madrid.

Santiago Bernabéu to host another NFL game in Madrid

Last year’s event proved to be a major organizational and marketing success. The game between the Miami Dolphins and the Washington Commanders attracted more than 75,000 fans to the stands, while National Football League executives were highly impressed by both the atmosphere and the stadium itself.

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell openly praised the stadium owned by Real Madrid CF. During his visit to Madrid, he described Santiago Bernabéu as a world-class venue that could even be the best sports stadium in the world. Goodell watched the game alongside Real Madrid president Florentino Pérez. The league’s positive assessment quickly convinced the NFL to continue its regular-season project in Spain.

This year’s matchup is expected to be far more attractive from a sporting perspective than last year’s game in Madrid. In 2025, both the Miami Dolphins and the Washington Commanders arrived in Spain dealing with major roster issues and injuries to key players, which significantly impacted the quality of the spectacle. This time, fans can expect much bigger stars. In particular, the arrival of the Cincinnati Bengals has generated enormous excitement, as the team possesses one of the most explosive offenses in the entire NFL. The match will take place on November 8 at 3:30 PM.

© Real Madrid | National Football League will return to Santiago Bernabéu Stadium after last year’s hugely successful game in Madrid. League officials praised the atmosphere, attendance and cutting-edge infrastructure of Real Madrid CF’s stadium.

Joe Burrow and Ja'Marr Chase headline the Bernabéu showdown

The biggest star of the event will undoubtedly be quarterback Joe Burrow. The Cincinnati Bengals signal-caller has established himself among the elite players in the league over recent years and is now one of the most recognizable faces in American football worldwide.

Huge attention is also focused on Bengals wide receivers Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. Together, they form one of the most dangerous offensive duos in the NFL and are expected to be among the main attractions of the Madrid event.

The Atlanta Falcons will also arrive in Spain with an exciting roster. Fans are expected to see running back Bijan Robinson, quarterback Michael Penix Jr., and tight end Kyle Pitts.

Organizing another NFL game at Santiago Bernabéu will be a bigger challenge

This year’s event will be a significantly greater logistical challenge than the previous edition. Last year, the NFL game took place during an international football break, which made organizing the event much easier. This time, the schedule will be tighter, as Real Madrid CF will continue playing regular-season matches at Santiago Bernabéu during the same period.

NFL officials have nevertheless insisted that there will be enough time to adapt the stadium between events. NFL Spain executive Rafael de los Santos previously stated that even a single week should be sufficient to fully prepare the venue between different sporting events.