NFL will keep playing games in Mexico through 2021

Frank Schwab
·NFL writer

The NFL’s commitment to international games isn’t slowing down.

Just before the Oakland Raiders and New England Patriots were to kick off in Mexico City on Sunday afternoon, the NFL and Mexico Ministry of Tourism announced the NFL will play a game in Mexico each season through 2021. That adds three years to the agreement, which was slated to run through 2018.

The NFL has held games in London since 2007, with no end in sight to games in the United Kingdom. It added a Mexico game last season and it drew well as a sellout crowd of 76,473 watched the Raiders beat the Houston Texans last season. The Raiders are also the home team for Sunday’s game in Mexico City, though it will be interesting to see if they continue to be involved in the Mexico games after they move into their new stadium in Las Vegas.

The NFL had a good experience in Mexico last season, loves its London games, and it wants to keep the international games going in both countries for a long time.

Fans pose wearing Steelers uniforms during NFL football's Fan Fest in Mexico City's main square, the Zocalo. (AP)
Fans pose wearing Steelers uniforms during NFL football’s Fan Fest in Mexico City’s main square, the Zocalo. (AP)

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Frank Schwab is the editor of Shutdown Corner on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at shutdown.corner@yahoo.com or follow him on Twitter!