
It’s already been quite the year for local sports, and we’re only weeks in 2025! Following news of the Florida Panthers hosting an outdoor game at loanDepot Park next year, the Miami Dolphins are soon headed for Spain.
The NFL has announced that the team will play the league’s first-ever regular-season game in Madrid’s Bernabéu Stadium. As part of the 2025 International Games, the Dolphins will be designated “home team” at the venue, where Real Madrid CF plays its matches.
The Dolphins’ vice chairman, president and CEO Tom Garfinkel put out a statement alongside the announcement:
“We are thrilled to play the NFL’s inaugural game in Spain, a country of rich history, tradition and passion and home to a vibrant Dolphins fanbase,” he said. “There is a hunger for football in this market, and we are proud to join with the NFL in growing the game internationally while engaging with old and new fans alike. With the unique synergy between Miami and Madrid, we believe this is only the beginning for us in this incredible region and we look forward to bringing the excitement and community of Dolphins football to Spain in 2025 and beyond.”
The date of the game, Miami’s opponent and kickoff time will be announced this spring. This would mark the team’s eighth regular season international game and fourth in a new country, following previous matchups in Germany (2023), the United Kingdom (2021, 2017, 2015, 2014, 2007) and Canada (2008).
With a seating capacity of over 78,000 — the second largest for a football stadium in Spain — the Bernabéu features a fully retractable pitch that can be stored beneath the stadium, allowing space for a football field. You can check it out below:
It was first revealed last February that a game would be held at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium during the 2025 regular season. The Dolphins and the Chicago Bears were most likely to be deemed host, as both franchises hold marketing rights in Spain as part of the league’s global markets program.