NFL: What's next as Dallas Cowboys and San Francisco 49ers confirm international games

The NFL's international expansion plan is gaining momentum, with the league announcing its first games in Australia and Brazil this season. The Dallas Cowboys will play their inaugural game at Rio de Janeiro's Maracana Stadium, while the San Francisco 49ers are set to face off against the Los Angeles Rams in Melbourne.

In a significant move, the NFL has confirmed two of its most iconic franchises - the Cowboys and the 49ers - for international games this season. The league aims to establish itself as a truly global sport property, with nine international games scheduled across four continents, seven countries, and eight stadiums.

The NFL's bid to expand globally is evident in the growing popularity of American football worldwide. The league has seen significant growth in viewership in recent years, particularly in Europe, Asia, and Latin America. With its upcoming international schedule, the NFL aims to tap into this growing demand for sports content.

However, some players have expressed concerns about the impact of international games on their health and well-being. Jonathan Greenard, a linebacker for the Minnesota Vikings, mentioned that playing back-to-back international games was a challenge. The NFL Players' Association (NFLPA) has been working to improve player safety and welfare, particularly in regards to travel fatigue.

The league's long-term plan is to play 16 international games per season, with each team participating once. While this ambitious goal may be challenging to achieve, it highlights the NFL's commitment to establishing itself as a truly global sports organization.

OMG I'm literally so stoked about the NFL coming to Australia and Brazil!!! It's been ages since we've had any decent international games here and now the Cowboys and 49ers are finally gracing our stadiums with their presence ! Can you imagine watching a game at the Maracana Stadium, one of the most iconic stadiums in the world? I'm literally dying to get my hands on those season tickets ASAP But seriously though, this is huge for American football in Australia and Brazil - it's gonna be epic ! And let's not forget about the NFLPA's efforts to improve player safety... fingers crossed they can make those international games more manageable for the players

the nfl's international expansion is like woah , can't wait to see cowboys and 49ers take on some new teams in australia and brazil . i think this is gonna be huge for the league's growth and it'll be awesome to watch american football live in different parts of the world . gotta feel for the players tho, back-to-back international games can't be easy on them , hope the nflpa keeps working on player safety

omg i just watched this game last week and it was so intense but anyway i was thinking about how cool its gonna be to watch nfl games live one day i wonder if they'll have merchandise with the brazilian flag on them lol and is it weird that some players are worried about playing in different countries? like isn't it supposed to be a sport

So the NFL's getting all around the world, eh? Like they're trying to invade our Netflix queue, but you know what they should do next - host a game in Minecraft Stadium and let players show off their virtual tackles . But seriously, it's cool that they're taking American football global. I mean, who wouldn't want to see Tom Brady throwing touchdowns with the Sydney Opera House as his backdrop?

omg can u believe the nfl is finally going global like i've been saying for ages that they should expand their reach to more countries and now it's happening! but seriously though, playing all those international games in a row is defo gonna take a toll on players' health like jonathan greenard said, it's not just about the physical demands of the game, it's also about travel fatigue and stuff. i hope the nflpa can help make sure they're prioritizing player safety but yeah, this is a huge step for the league and i'm hyped to see how it all goes down

I'm so stoked about the NFL's international expansion plan . I mean, who wouldn't want to see American football in Rio and Melbourne? It's gonna be lit! The growth of the sport globally is insane, and it's awesome that they're investing in making the league a global thing. But, for real, player safety is a major concern here. Back-to-back games can be tough on guys, and I'm glad the NFLPA is pushing for better travel arrangements. 16 international games per season sounds crazy ambitious tho . Either way, it's exciting to see the league taking bold steps towards becoming a global sports powerhouse!

[Image of a football player looking exhausted ]

International games are cool, but have you seen the travel fatigue memes [GIF: a person on a plane with a "I'm tired" caption]

Back-to-back international games? That's like trying to do backflips while balancing a plate of nachos ️

The NFL wants 16 int'l games per season? More like 16 hours of flight times

OMG , can you believe the NFL is finally taking its international expansion thing seriously? I'm loving the fact that they're sending in the big guns like the Cowboys and 49ers to kick off this new era . But, gotta give it up for the concerns from players about travel fatigue and player safety... like, yeah, we get it, flying across continents is no joke ️. Still, I think it's dope that they're pushing to make NFL games a global thing... would love to see more stadiums in Asia and Africa !

I think its dope that the NFL is tryna expand globally lol, like who wouldn't want to see the Cowboys and 49ers play in Brazil and Australia? Its crazy how the league has grown so much in terms of viewership, especially with all the new fans they're getting from Europe and Asia . But at the same time, I feel for the players who have to travel so much, like Jonathan Greenard was saying about playing back-to-back games being a challenge The NFLPA gotta keep pushing for player safety tho . Still think its gonna be sick to see the league play 16 international games per season though

This is so cool! I'm loving that the NFL is taking its game to the world! Playing in Australia and Brazil this season is gonna bring American football to a whole new level of excitement . It's awesome that iconic teams like the Cowboys and 49ers are part of it, too. I hope it's not just about the fans, though - let's make sure player safety is on top of mind . Travel fatigue can be serious, and we need to support our NFL players in all this . Still super stoked for more international games, though!

So I'm kinda hyped about the NFL coming to Australia and Brazil, but at the same time, I feel bad for the players having to travel all over the world for these games... like, aren't they already tired enough from training? And what's up with the Cowboys playing in Rio de Janeiro? Isn't that gonna be super hot during a game? I wonder if they'll have special cooling systems or something. Also, how do they plan to get all those games done without messing up their regular season schedule? It's like, can you really fit 16 international games into the calendar without making it super chaotic?

This is gonna be lit ! The NFL going global is super cool and I'm hyped to see the Cowboys & 49ers rockin' stadiums in Rio & Melbourne . The more games, the merrier... but gotta worry about player safety, you feel? Travel fatigue can be a real bummer, so hopefully the NFLPA's got their act together . Eight stadiums across four continents? Mind blown! Can't wait to watch some American football under the Aussie sun or Brazilian lights !

ugh i mean seriously have u seen the schedule for these int'l games? melbourne in august? that's like, right before christmas and then they want us to travel all the way back to the states? my headache just thinking about it and whats up with the 49ers & cowboys getting preferential treatment again? dont get me wrong i love football but can we have some balance in this whole thing?

can't believe they're playing in maracana, that place holds history and energy, gotta be wild for the cowboys fans but also think about all the travel those players have to do, like jonathan greenard said, back-to-back games can take a toll on your body hopefully the nflpa gets it right with player safety

man i think its dope that the nfl is tryna go global they should keep pushing forward w/ their international games, but yeah gotta make sure players health isnt compromised tho

I think it's dope that the NFL is trying to go global ! It's been growing in popularity worldwide and now they're playing games in Australia and Brazil . The fact that two iconic teams like the Cowboys and 49ers are part of this inaugural season is a big deal ️. But, gotta ask, how's gonna affect their health? Travel fatigue is real for players , so they need to make sure they're not putting themselves at risk. Maybe it'll be a good thing if the league can show that playing in different countries can actually improve player safety !

I think its awesome that the NFL is expanding globally. We're living in an age where the world feels smaller than ever and it's great to see a sport like football bringing people together across borders . The fact that they're starting with Australia and Brazil is a good move, those are some big markets. And I'm glad to hear they're prioritizing player safety, travel fatigue can be pretty brutal . 16 international games per season might be ambitious but it's definitely doable if they make sure the teams aren't overplayed .

I'm loving the fact that the NFL is finally stepping up its game and playing more internationally ! Australia and Brazil are gonna get to experience some top-notch American football action this season, and I'm sure it'll be a real game-changer for the league's global appeal. It's awesome that they're prioritizing player safety too - travel fatigue is no joke, especially when you're playing back-to-back games . The Cowboys and 49ers are gonna kill it in their first international matches, and I'm stoked to see more teams participating in the long run. With nine games planned across four continents, this league is really making a global effort to become the biggest sports property out there .

OMG, can you believe its finally happening!!! The NFL is gonna take over the world (just kidding kinda lol) but for real, playing games in Australia and Brazil sounds like an amazing experience! I'm low-key obsessed with the idea of watching the Dallas Cowboys rock the Maracana Stadium . And can you imagine the hype surrounding those first international games?! The 49ers vs Rams match up is gonna be EPIC .

But seriously though, I do have some concerns about player safety and travel fatigue... all those back-to-back games gotta take a toll on their bodies . Hopefully, the NFLPA can get everything sorted out so these guys can enjoy the ride without worrying too much about their health .

I'm also super stoked to see the NFL expanding globally - it's gonna be awesome to see more American football fans around the world cheering on their fave teams ! The league is really pushing the boundaries this season, and I am HERE. FOR. IT