America has a deep and passionate sports culture; much of which can be traced back to the country’s roots. But there is no sport that has captivated the American mind more than football. The National Football League is America’s biggest and most successful sports organization. It is in charge of regulating and organizing matches and tournaments all over the country.
We often hear baseball referred to as America’s favorite pastime. But the title is a bit outdated we fear. When it comes to national popularity; football is far ahead. The same cannot be said about their success overseas. Baseball has managed to carve a global fandom with millions of followers around the world. The same can’t be said for American football.
But there has been a recent spark of interest in the sport in Europe. Some have argued that the betting industry has contributed to the sport’s success. A lot of betting sites with cash out options do their best to appeal to a wider audience. They naturally cover NFL odds because they try to cater to Americans. But European punters are noticing the odds and are becoming interested. So, how popular is the NFL in Europe?
International Enjoyment for the NFL
The NFL’s historical success outside the US has been lacking. But the organization has done nothing but try their hardest to grow their brand. They are pursuing an aggressive campaign to propagate NFL popularity the world over. What is really interesting to see is that the campaign seems to be quite effective. We are already noticing the NFL’s success grow in neighboring countries; as well as in Europe. The two nations most affected by the company’s incessant pursuit are Mexico and Canada.
The NFL International Series was first played in London close to two decades ago. Since then the series were more often seen taking place in the US’ neighbors to the north and south. Mexico is surprisingly the most receptive nation of the NFL. There are over twenty million NFL fans present in America’s southern neighbors. Some may expect that Canada is the second biggest hub of fans outside the USA. But the fact is that that title goes to Brazil; with twenty million NFL followers.
The National Football League is growing more popular in Canada with each passing year. But it has some staunch competition in the Great White North. Canada has its own Canadian Football League; which attracts a ton of fans from all over the country. Still the NFL has managed to accrue seven million Canadian fans who tune in to the latest updates every week. But what about the game’s success overseas?
The NFL is Coming to Europe
We brought up the National Football League International Series event previously; when we mentioned it took place in England. The first event was a major success, and managed to spark some interest in the NFL overseas. The popularity of the event even caused a surge of British fans and a major interest in the British American Football Association; which now governs domestic and international American football events in the country.
The sport also has seen growth among Scots and Irish folk. Some have pointed out that the NFL has an advantage in Britain because of the country’s love of rugby. The two games clearly have a sort of common ancestor; and it is easy for fan of one to also love the other. Even some noteworthy athletes have switched between the two sports. But the NFL did not stop at the UK. It is also coming to Germany; and it seems to have quite the grip on the country.
German television channels have entered a deal with NFL; allowing them to broadcast the latest events for a local audience. What is truly fascinating is how effective this step has been for the league. German viewers seem to really be into the American sport. To a point where the country now has the biggest European American football fan following. There are 6.5 million people calling themselves NFL fans in Germany. The number is only slightly lower in the UK; which houses around 6 million NFL followers.
The NFL Teams with the Most Success
It may be fun to discuss which National Football League teams have garnered the most international success. Savvy fans of football will likely already have their guesses; most of which are going to be correct. The teams’ popularity varies from year to year. But there are some that remain consistently near the top. The Dallas Cowboys are the NFL’s most valuable team right now. The franchise is worth around $13 billion.
The Green Bay Packers have historically been an integral part of the American football culture. They remain the only locally-owned team in the NFL today; making them a product of a bygone era. That said, the Packers are incredibly successful in what they do. Many consider them among the top five best NFL teams; which is why they are also internationally successful. Even those who know nothing about the sport might be able to name the Packers.
The Kansas City Chiefs have also experienced an unforeseen surge in popularity; but it isn’t for the reasons one may think. By now every Swiftie is aware of Taylor Swift’s and Travis Kelce’s engagement. The singer’s connection to Kelce has led to a drastic increase in Chiefs’ game attendance and revenue. It has also increased the team’s brand visibility worldwide; making them among the most popular NFL franchises right now.
Closing Remarks
The National Football League’s aggressive growth campaign continues. The organization seems unsatisfied with just being America’s favorites. They are going for international acclaim. The harder they try the more they achieve; proving the old adage that through hard work all things are possible. The success of the NFL has even been felt in East Asia. Japan and South Korea seem quite fascinated by the sport. Admittedly the sports fans in these nations prefer America’s old favorite pastime.
