The history of American football dates back to 1869. The sport that was inspired by rugby and soccer in the United States has grown into a global sensation. The biggest league is the NFL, but there are other leagues like the UFL, AFL and other semi-pro leagues.
This has spread to wagering with overseas betting sites not on GamStop, incorporating American football into their betting markets. NFL Sundays are becoming a global phenomenon across Europe, Mexico and Asia.
How the NFL Is Expanding Internationally
The NFL has worked to expand its reach internationally with events in the London Games. The league has expanded from one game in London every season to multiple games in different countries.
Through the Global Markets Program, which was launched in 2022, NFL teams have overseas marketing and commercial partnership rights. Expansion to Europe means seeing the NFL featured in sportwetten ohne OASIS sites for German players.
The league has hosted matches in London, Frankfurt, New Mexico and Munich, just to mention a few. In 2025, GMP is expanding to 29 teams in 21 international markets. Some of the newly added markets are Greece and the UAE. This means the growing fan base is expanding past Europe to Asia.
Also, the league is increasing the number of international regular-season games. 7 games are scheduled in 2025 and the plan is to extend the number of games to 16 in the next couple of years.
American Football’s Tradition Influences Other Sports
American football has influenced pop culture. Movies like “Rudy”, released in 1993 and “Remember the Titans” gained popularity in non-American countries. There are also reality shows based on football, like the DCC (Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders), ranking top even in African countries.
The same applies to fashion. The NFL jerseys are popular worldwide and are now considered fashionable. Brands like Nike, Under Armour and Adidas, recognised worldwide, are releasing these jerseys in their collection.
Fan rituals like the “Rise Up” chant have inspired similar chants in other sports. This motivates and unites fans, which is something American football fans are known for.
Popular & Upcoming International American Football Leagues
Apart from the NFL, other popular and upcoming American football leagues are gaining traction. The World American Football League (WAFL) is a new entity that is creating opportunities for players across the world.
The WAFL calendar is similar to the NFL, with 12 founding teams across Europe, Asia, North America and South America. The IFAF (International Federation of American Football) Flag Football Championship is held every two years in different countries. It started in 2002, and the men’s and women’s competitions are always in the same venue.
The European League of Football (ELF), which played its first season in 2021, has expanded to 16 teams in 2025. EFL caters to European teams. Another example is Mexico’s LFA, which started almost a decade ago. This is the top league in Mexico and has an alliance with the Canadian Football League.
GFL, the German Football League, currently known as American-Football-Bundesliga, is considered among the competitive football leagues in Europe. It has tremendously increased the popularity of the sport over three decades.
GLE has become a symbol of the international NFL market. This has led to the investments and expansion of the NFL German market for regular season and off-season games.
The Impact of Digital Media Fan Engagement on American Football Fans
Social media and streaming platforms have played a key role in the sport’s international audience. For example, the popularisation of the Super Bowl halftime show on social media has made several people tune into the game.
Social media allows teams to engage directly with fans and build a community following beyond the United States. Fan forums on platforms like Facebook and Twitter allow fans to discuss their passion.
Digital media and blogs also follow up on the different NFL players. For instance, Travis Kelce, who plays for the Kansas City Chiefs, and his relationship with Taylor Swift made headlines. This, in turn, attracted people to the game.
What Is the Future of American Football?
International football events and the growing fan base in American football are expected to skyrocket shortly. The more people keep up with sports across digital platforms, the higher its influence on global sports culture.
