Croke Park could host NFL match between Steelers and Packers

Cabinet is being briefed and it has been speculated that a decision will be reached this week on the game taking place in Dublin

Negotiations have been underway for Ireland to host an NFL game at Croke Park this year. Picture: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

Cabinet is being briefed this morning on the latest developments surrounding the negotiations to bring an NFL match to Croke Park.

Negotiations have been underway for Ireland to host an NFL game at Croke Park this year, which, if confirmed, would be between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Green Bay Packers.

It has been speculated that a decision will be reached this week on the NFL game taking place in Dublin.

Sources at Cabinet have said that the bidding process is currently underway, with a business case being thrashed out between the NFL and the Department of Sport.

However, they added that nothing has been signed off on as of yet.

The match itself would be a regular NFL season match between the two teams.

On Sunday, the biggest event of the NFL calendar – the Super Bowl – will take place, with hopes within the Government that an announcement would be able to be made during the event.

Ireland has previously hosted an NFL game back in July of 1997, when the Steelers came to Croke Park for a pre-season game against the Chicago Bears.

The Aviva Stadium has hosted the College Football Classic since 2012.

However, the proposed match between the Steelers and Packers would represent a step up as it would be the first ever NFL regular season game to be played in Ireland. 

The NFL has hosted international games in England, Germany, Brazil and Mexico in the past. 

In the 2025 season, Spain will host a game for the first time, with the Miami Dolphins set to play in the Bernabeu Stadium in Madrid.

The Super Bowl, which will take place on Sunday night, is due to be played between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Kansas City Chiefs.