The NFL commissioner, Roger Goodell, says the league expects to hold a game in Tokyo in 2027 or 2028. Coverage notes that the NFL has played multiple exhibition games in Japan previously, and frames Goodell’s comments as part of a broader push to expand the league’s international footprint.
Several outlets recall that the NFL has already staged 14 exhibition or preseason games in Japan, with the last match occurring in 2005. One report also ties the Tokyo idea to the NFL’s plan for a nine-game international slate in 2026, indicating the league is building momentum toward further overseas expansion.
While all sources treat Goodell’s remarks as indicating “near future” or an “it’s coming” timeline, they differ on how specific they are about the year and on how much they emphasize the 2026 schedule context. Overall, the reporting focuses on Goodell’s expectation for Tokyo and the league’s past Japan games rather than providing new operational details.
