Jerry Jones has drawn a clear line on how far he believes the NFL’s international push should go. The Cowboys owner supports taking games to overseas markets, but he is not convinced the league should eventually place expansion franchises outside the United States.
His comments arrived as commissioner Roger Goodell became more direct about the possibility of international teams. The timing was notable because Dallas played Baltimore in Rio de Janeiro on Sept. 27, 2026, during a season featuring a record 9 international games across 7 countries.
Jones separates international games from expansion
Jones addressed the issue during his weekly appearance on 105.3 The Fan. Asked about an NFL expansion team in Europe, he said, “I don’t know about an expansion,” while describing the sport’s story as continuing to expand globally.
Jones drew a distinction between playing games abroad and creating a permanent franchise outside the United States. He said he could see the games continuing while the NFL’s global reach grows, but called an expansion team something that is probably still far away.
The comments came days before Dallas’ trip to Brazil, giving Jones a direct connection to the league’s international strategy. The Cowboys played Baltimore at Rio de Janeiro’s Maracanã Stadium on Sept. 27, 2026, in the NFL’s first regular-season game in the city.
Goodell has a different long-term vision
Goodell has recently taken a stronger position on the possibility of an international franchise. In August, the commissioner said he had “no doubt” that the NFL would eventually have teams outside the United States, although he gave no specific timetable.
Goodell has also been linked to Europe as the most likely region for an international franchise. The league’s broader international vision includes reaching 16 regular-season international games, while NFL owners have approved up to 10 international games beyond the 2026 season.
That direction goes beyond occasional overseas games. The NFL is building recurring international markets, investing in fan development and commercial programs, and returning to cities such as London, Munich, Madrid and Mexico City.
The 2026 schedule shows the growth
The scale of the 2026 schedule shows how quickly the strategy is expanding. The season features 9 international games across 4 continents, with contests in Australia, Brazil, England, France, Germany, Mexico and Spain.
Three markets are new for 2026: Melbourne, Paris and Rio de Janeiro. The league entered the 2026 season with 62 regular-season games already played outside the United States, according to NFL figures, and owners have approved up to 10 international games beyond 2026.
The expansion also gives the NFL more opportunities to test different markets and build local fan bases. Each new international game adds another regular-season event outside the United States and provides the league with more information about where future games could be staged.
Fun fact: Maracanã Stadium, where Dallas and Baltimore played on Sept. 27, 2026, hosted the 2014 FIFA World Cup final, when Germany defeated Argentina 1-0 after extra time.
Jones prefers Mexico for Dallas
Jones’ comments also revealed a preference within the existing international-game model. During a 105.3 The Fan appearance, he said the Cowboys would prefer Mexico if given a legitimate choice, reflecting Dallas’ long-established connection with that market.
That preference is different from opposing international games altogether. Jones acknowledged that teams have a schedule for when they need to play internationally and said the Cowboys’ game in Brazil was their turn.
Dallas’ involvement in Rio also reflected the commercial value of the Cowboys brand outside the United States. The franchise played its 2nd regular-season game outside the country, with its previous international appearance coming against Jacksonville in London in 2014.
International games and franchises are different
The league’s international game strategy gives teams a different role than a permanent franchise would. A scheduled game abroad can introduce a market without requiring the NFL to establish a full-time club, while existing franchises retain their U.S. identities.
A permanent team would create additional questions around travel, scheduling, facilities, and competitive balance. Those issues are separate from the business case for individual international games, which can be added without creating a new franchise.
Jones’ comments leave room for the international series to keep growing. His skepticism is centered on expansion, not on using overseas games to build audiences and deepen the NFL’s presence.
Dallas is already part of the global push
For the Cowboys, the immediate reality was simpler than the expansion debate. Dallas traveled to Rio for a nationally televised Week 3 matchup against Baltimore, and the game was part of a league-record international slate.
The NFL has also committed to playing at least 3 regular-season games in Rio over 5 years. The league describes Brazil as a major international market, with more than 36 million NFL fans.
That helps explain how Jones can support international growth while remaining skeptical of an overseas franchise. The Cowboys can play marquee international games, reach established fan bases, and expand the brand without requiring the league to create a new team abroad.
What Jones’ stance means for the debate
The disagreement is less about whether the NFL should grow internationally and more about how that growth should happen. Jones is accepting international games while questioning the need for a permanent team abroad, while Goodell has increasingly discussed both expanded scheduling and overseas franchises.
There is no international expansion franchise currently operating or formally scheduled. Goodell’s comments describe a long-term direction rather than an announced team, while Jones’ remarks show that the idea does not have universal support among league owners.
The contrast was especially visible because Dallas participated in one of the league’s signature international events. The Rio game reflected the existing model in practice, while the broader debate concerns whether that model will ultimately lead to a permanent NFL presence outside the United States.
TL;DR
- Jones supports international games but questions expansion into foreign markets.
- Goodell says international franchises could eventually become part of the NFL.
- The 2026 season has a record 9 international games.
- Dallas played Baltimore in Rio on Sept. 27, 2026.
Read More From This Brand:
- Patrick Mahomes delivers a warning to the Chiefs despite their fast start
- Deion Sanders removes players after Colorado blowout as safety apologizes
- Mike McCarthy takes blame for Steelers offense after Rodgers struggles vs Patriots
This article was made with AI assistance and human editing.
