NFL announces Pittsburgh Steelers will play 2025 regular-season home game in Dublin

The NFL announced Friday that the Pittsburgh Steelers will serve as the designated home team for the first regular season game in Dublin during the 2025 season.

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

Croke Park, the largest sporting arena in Ireland, will play host to the game, per Tom Pelissero of NFL Network.

The Steelers have a deep connection to Ireland, as the late Dan M. Rooney, Art Rooney‘s father, served as U.S. ambassador to Ireland from 2009-12. He was a co-founder of the Ireland Funds charity, according to NFL.com. In 1997, the Steelers and Chicago Bears played a preseason game in Ireland as part of the American Bowl series.

“We are very excited to be the designated team in the first regular-season game to be played in Ireland this upcoming season,” Steelers president Art Rooney II said. “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.”

NFL expanding to new international markets, Steelers going to Dublin

Beginning in 2025, the NFL can schedule up to eight international games per season. The New York Jets, Cleveland Browns and Jacksonville Jaguars will each play international games in London. Tottenham Hotspur Stadium will host both the Jets and Browns, while Wembley Stadium will play host to the Jaguars.

The Indianapolis Colts will play in the first regular season game in Berlin at Olympic Stadium. Meanwhile, the Miami Dolphins will play at Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, home to soccer giants Real Madrid.

London has been a fixture on the schedule since the inaugural game in the U.K.’s capital in 2007. The league has since expanded to other countries. Its hosted five games in Mexico, three in Germany and the first in Brazil — 2024 Week 1 between the Green Bay Packers and Philadelphia Eagles.

“We are delighted to officially bring a regular-season NFL game to Ireland as part of our 2025 International Games slate,” said Peter O’Reilly, executive vice president of international, league events and club business at the NFL. “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.”