The NFL is America's largest sport, yet it has enormous worldwide potential. International games and another announcement are part of its strategy to break through.
On Sept. 13, the NFL confirmed that all 32 clubs would have one international player on their practice squads.
The announcement stated that "the National Football League has announced the expansion of the practice squad for all 32 clubs beginning in 2024 to
include one international player, helping to identify and develop talented athletes from around the world in football."
The NFL established the International Player Pathway Program in 2017. Every year, one division has recruited one international player to their practice squad for a chance to reach the 53-man roster.
Five international players—Australia's Jordan Mailata (Philadelphia Eagles), the UK's Efe Obada (Washington Commanders),
Germany's Jakob Johnson (Las Vegas Raiders), Chile's Sammis Reyes, and Germany's David Bada—have become active NFL players.
A player is an international player if they live outside the US or Canada and have no more than two years of high school experience in the US.
The league's previous three MVPs have been foreign players, which has increased its appeal in Europe and Africa.
Basketball is extremely popular throughout Asia, especially in China, Japan, and the Philippines, which hosted the FIBA World Cup.