Why the NFL is taking football international.

NFL teams play games overseas to expand the league's global fanbase, unlock new commercial revenue streams, and test the feasibility of permanent international franchises. By playing regular-season games overseas, the NFL changes from a domestic American sport to a globally recognized entertainment empire. 

NFL games and programming are televised and streamed across more than 223 countries and territories. Playing live games in world-class venues allows the league to deepen generational fan loyalty in regions that historically had limited exposure to American football.