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The National Football League has officially announced that it will hold its first regular-season game in Ireland in 2025. The Pittsburgh Steelers will be the designated team for this historic event, which will take place at Croke Park in Dublin. This historic game is expected to benefit Irish tourism, the broader economy, and the sports sector. It will also strengthen the cultural, family, and economic connections between Ireland and the United States.
The game marks a significant step in the NFL’s ongoing efforts to expand its global presence. Dublin joins a growing list of international cities hosting NFL games, including London, Munich, Frankfurt, São Paulo, Mexico City, Toronto, Berlin, and Madrid.
Croke Park to host historic NFL Matchup
Croke Park, the largest sports stadium in Ireland and the headquarters of the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA), will host the game. With a seating capacity of approximately 69,000, the stadium is expected to draw a large and enthusiastic crowd. The game will be held in partnership with the Government of Ireland and Dublin City Council.
The Steelers’ involvement in the first NFL regular season game in Ireland is particularly noteworthy due to the team’s ties to the country. The Rooney family, owners of the Steelers, has a long history and connection with Ireland.
Daniel M. Rooney, former Steelers chairman, served as the U.S. Ambassador to Ireland from 2009 to 2012. The Steelers are no stranger to the venue either, having played in the old preseason’s American Bowl game against the Chicago Bears at Croke Park in 1997.
Fans are also looking forward to this upcoming event. Many online discussions and projections have sprouted, as well as different promo codes for the upcoming NFL events, such as draftkings promo code, and fans are going over various theories and possible outcomes. Fans are also discussing possible future NFL international games and locations.
What this means for Steelers
“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”.
The NFL awarded the Pittsburgh Steelers international marketing rights on the island of Ireland in 2023. This allows the team to conduct fan and youth football activities, engage in corporate sponsorship, sell merchandise, and develop co-marketing relationships throughout Ireland.
Who will the Steelers face?
The opponent and specific date of the game will be announced in the future, and perhaps ahead of the full 2025 NFL schedule release. However, we already know Pittsburgh’s home and away opponents for 2025. With the Steelers as the designated home team, their potential opponents are already outlined for the upcoming season.
The list of home opponents includes those in the AFC North (the Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, and Cleveland Browns) plus a split between teams in the AFC East and NFC North. Those home opponents include the Buffalo Bills, Green Bay Packers, Indianapolis Colts, Miami Dolphins, Minnesota Vikings, and Seattle Seahawks.
Speculation is rampant that the opponent will likely be the an NFC team and is heavily suggesting the Packers have already been notified of the matchup. However, the Minnesota Vikings could have an international game rematch with the Steelers, who squared off in London, England back in 2013, with the Seahawks as the other non-AFC suitor.
The NFL’s decision to bring a regular-season game to Ireland reflects the league’s commitment to expanding its fanbase and promoting American football globally. Regardless of the opponent, tith the Steelers as the designated team, the game promises to be a memorable event for both Irish and NFL fans.
Steelers’ Irish roots deepen with historic game in Dublin appeared first on Steel City Underground.