NFL Fans Are Fuming Over League's Future International Scheduling Plans

It appears the NFL's quest for global expansion may come at the cost of alienating a larger segment of its overall fanbase.

According to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler, the league plans to increase the number of International Series games next season, and its taking steps to limit teams' ability to stand in the way.

"The NFL on Tuesday approved the ability to play as many as 10 international games starting in 2027, up from eight previously," Fowler reported. "The league also voted to strip teams’ ability to protect any home games from international play. Previously, teams could protect two games."

Fowler also reported the NFL also reportedly has plans to expand into the Asian market with games being eyed in Japan and beyond, but not everyone is as excited about the league increasing its global footprint as NFL executives are.

Football fans hit social media to express their outrage over losing potential home games to feed the league's international appetite.

"So what I hear is screw season ticket holders and loyal fans, international games make more money vs home game which is better for the bottom-line for both the team and the NFL," one fan wrote.

"Moneygrubbing league taking away home games from the season ticket holders that still have to pay full price for 8 home games," another replied.

"Glad to see the NFL still cares about its fans in America. Oh, wait… 🤔," a third fan noted.

"What is the @NFL doing to the fans here in the states where the game was born, played and grown? This is just nuts," scoffed one user.

"Another W for the greedy league execs chasing that global cash. Cool, we get it. But screw the season ticket holders who just lost a home game and now gotta wake up at the [expletive] crack of dawn to watch their team get absolutely shellacked in some random European stadium," another user remarked.

"The NFL is making it so easy to not give a [expletive]. Stopped going to Bucs games 15 years ago and I’d stop watching today if it wasn’t something that I’ve done with my elderly dad for 15 years," one fan snarked.

"Chasing the money while screwing the fans. Sound business model," another user posted.

As it sits right now, teams play either eight or nine home games any given year (with an uneven 17-game schedule it alternates between having more home and away games by year).

From the fan perspective, if a team has only eight home games in a given season, then loses one to an International Series game, they're essentially footing the bill for fans overseas to steal a game away from them.

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This story was originally published May 20, 2026 at 10:48 AM.