The NFL scores a touchdown in Madrid: “It’s not a game, it’s an event”

It’s been 642 days since the NFL announced in Las Vegas – during the buildup to the Super Bowl – its official arrival in Spain. In the so-called Sin City, Peter O’Reilly and Emilio Butragueño sealed an agreement between two sporting giants: the world’s most lucrative league would stage a regular-season game in one of the planet’s most iconic stadiums, the Santiago Bernabéu.

Since that day, there’s been no shortage of announcements and planning. First, the Miami Dolphins were named the home team, followed by the addition of the Washington Commanders, setting up a historic showdown that is now just hours away. The long-awaited game will kick off this Sunday at 3:30 p.m. local time (9:30 a.m. ET) To mark the occasion, AS hosted Rafa De los Santos, the NFL’s managing director in Spain, for an in-depth conversation about what he described as a “stratospheric” event.

“This is the kickoff to a very special week,” said De los Santos, who was joined by Alba Sáiz and welcomed by Aloysio Araujo, PRISA Media’s general director of Sports, and AS editorial director José Félix Díaz. Having taken on the role on October 1, De los Santos said the league has “very high expectations” for its Spanish debut. “When ticket sales opened, 700,000 devices tried to buy at the same time. The excitement is enormous – we’ve really felt it,” he explained, adding that “tickets sold out immediately, but in recent days we’ve been releasing a few more that had been held back for safety and space reasons.”

So, there’s still a last chance to be part of history in person – tickets are available through the official link. “What’s certain,” he emphasized, “is that the stadium will be packed. Everyone wants to be there.”

A full week of football fever

Both the NFL in the US and its Spanish branch are keen to stress that this is much more than a three-hour game. “We’re recreating what a real game week is like, just as they do over there,” De los Santos said. “It’s not just about the game itself – it’s an entire event that fans will experience throughout the week.” Activities include two NFL Academy games at Vallehermoso, flag football exhibitions, and official team pubs for fans of both franchises. “It’s like a mini Super Bowl,” he said, echoing the words of O’Reilly, the league’s executive vice president and head of international expansion, who will be in Madrid for the occasion. NFL commissioner Roger Goodell will also attend, underscoring the league’s strong commitment to Spain. “His enthusiasm and focus on these international games are incredible. They’re bringing 350 people over – it’s an absolute priority.”

Will Spain become a regular NFL stop?

The big question inevitably came up: will this be the first of many NFL games in Spain? De los Santos kept his answer cautious but optimistic. “We haven’t looked beyond this one yet. Our focus is on this week and on Sunday. After that, we’ll see,” he said, though acknowledging that the league’s interest is “very strong.” O’Reilly recently spoke of a “long-term relationship” with Spain. Asked about the possibility of future games in Barcelona, he noted, “Their stadium still needs to be completed.”

The Bernabéu steps up

The arrival of the NFL in Spain wouldn’t have been possible without the collaboration of the Madrid City Council, the regional government, and above all, Real Madrid, which fought hard to host the event – initially rumored to be destined for the Metropolitano. “They want it to be a stratospheric, historic moment. We’re thrilled with all their support,” said De los Santos, also praising the Dolphins’ commitment to making an impact. “They want to fill Madrid with their colors, and we want to create things that last all year round.”

The NFL party in Spain has already begun – and it’s about much more than a game.

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