The NFL is coming to Ireland! First-ever regular season game confirmed for Croke Park

History will be made this autumn when Croke Park hosts the first-ever NFL regular season match to be played in Ireland.

As had been anticipated, The National Football has confirmed the fixture will take place in partnership with the Government of Ireland and Dublin City Council.

The Pittsburgh Steelers will play as the designated team and their opponents will be confirmed once the final fixture list for the 2025 season is announced.

Each year, the NFL regular season starts in early September and runs until early January.

The president of the Pittsburgh Steelers Art Rooney II and his family have a rich history and deep connection with the Island of Ireland, having family from Newry, County Down. The late Dan M. Rooney, Art Rooney's father, served as U.S. ambassador to Ireland from 2009-2012 and was a co-founder of the Ireland Funds charity.

The Steelers are also one of only two NFL teams to have played a game in Ireland to date, a preseason matchup in 1997 against the Chicago Bears at Croke Park as part of the American Bowl series.

"We are delighted to officially bring a regular-season NFL game to Ireland as part of our 2025 International Games slate," said executive vice president of international, league events and club business at the NFL Peter O'Reilly. "Both the NFL and the Steelers franchise have deep roots and history in Ireland, and we're looking forward to making our regular-season debut in Dublin, bringing our game to a large and passionate Irish fan base and underlining the NFL's commitment to global growth."

Steelers president Art Rooney II, added: "We are very excited to be the designated team in the first regular-season game to be played in Ireland this upcoming season. The opportunity for the Pittsburgh Steelers to play in Ireland is truly special, not only because of the Rooney family history there, but also to play in front of the growing number of Steelers fans in Ireland. We are thrilled to be part of this historic event to represent Pittsburgh in a game that brings the NFL to the great sports fans in Ireland."

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Welcoming the announcement, the recently-appointed Minister for Arts, Media, Communications, Culture and Sport Patrick O'Donovan said: "This is a major vote of confidence in Ireland's ability to host world class events and in Dublin's reputation as one of the most welcoming cities in the world.

"Hosting a regular-season NFL game in 2025 will have huge benefits for Irish tourism, the wider economy and our sports ecosystem. It will also build upon the deep cultural, family and economic ties between Ireland and the United States. I look forward to welcoming thousands of American football fans from the U.S., Europe and further afield to our shores for this historic game, and also to the ongoing collaboration with the NFL, Sport Ireland and American Football Ireland to grow American football participation in Ireland.

Ar Aghaidh Linn ☘️

The NFL is coming to Dublin, Ireland and the @steelers are the designated team! pic.twitter.com/kpAemsOUvc

— NFL UK & Ireland (@NFLUKIRE) February 7, 2025

"We are absolutely delighted to welcome the NFL and the Pittsburgh Steelers to Croke Park," said GAA president Jarlath Burns. "This event will not only highlight our stadium's world-class facilities but also reinforce the connections and love of sport shared between our communities. Croke Park is a proud symbol of Ireland's rich sporting heritage, and hosting one of the world's best sporting organizations is a momentous occasion for the entire country. It will be a special and unique event, celebrating the passion uniting two great sporting codes in the heart of Dublin."

The NFL, which is seeking to expand its global presence has already announced that three regular-season matches will take place in London this year while matches will also be played in Madrid and Berlin for the first time.

The exact date and kick-off time for the Pittsburgh Steelers match at Croke Park will be confirmed in the coming months.