The Miami Dolphins will play the NFL's first regular season game in Spain when Madrid hosts a game at the iconic Santiago Bernabeu Stadium, the NFL announced on Friday.

The Dolphins will be the designated "home" team at Real Madrid's home stadium, where the football field can be retracted to make room for a football field. Its capacity is just over 78,000 people.

"We are excited to play our first NFL game in Spain, a country rich in history, tradition and passion," said Dolphins Vice Chairman, President and CEO Tom Garfinkel. The home of vibrant Dolphins fans.”

Game dates and Miami's opponents will be announced this spring.

See you in Madrid! 🇪🇸

Next season we will host the first NFL game in Madrid. pic.twitter.com/vfBltXlzkR

— Miami Dolphins (@MiamiDolphins) January 17, 2025

The Dolphins and Chicago Bears have marketing rights in Spain as part of the league's Global Markets program, which allows the teams to host events and sign commercial agreements at those locations.

Brett Gosper, head of NFL Europe and Asia Pacific, said: “This exciting first game in Spain highlights the NFL’s continued commitment to expanding its global reach and reaching new audiences around the world. ”

The Miami Heat missed the playoffs this season with an 8-9 record.

The Dolphins are 2-5 outside the United States and have lost their past four international games, most of which were as recently as 2023 in Frankfurt, Germany, where they lost 21-14 The Kansas City Chiefs. Miami has played five games in London and once in Toronto.

Miami’s 2025 schedule includes home games against AFC East opponents — the Buffalo Bills, New England Patriots and New York Jets — as well as the Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, New Orleans Saints, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Los Angeles Chargers and Washington Commanders.

The NFL has been aggressively expanding its global footprint in an effort to find new fans and revenue streams. Partnering with one of the most successful football clubs in the world is a brand asset.

Emilio Butragueño, Director of Institutional Relations at Real Madrid, said: “The partnership with the NFL will bring one of the most prestigious sporting events in the world to the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium, which has already welcomed hundreds of fans from all over the world. Thousands of passionate fans, allowing them to enjoy an incredible sporting experience.”

The Santiago Bernabeu, located in the center of the Spanish capital, is a leading candidate to host the 2030 World Cup final.

Through the 2025 season, the NFL can schedule up to eight league-operated regular season games internationally.

London will host three games next season - two at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and one at Wembley Stadium. The Jets and Cleveland Browns are home to Tottenham Hotspur; and the Jacksonville Jaguars are at Wembley.

Berlin will also host the Indianapolis Colts for the first time during the regular season at Olympic Stadium.

Last September, the Philadelphia Eagles defeated the Green Bay Packers 34-29 in Sao Paulo, Brazil, in the NFL's first game in South America.

League commissioner Roger Goodell said in October that Rio de Janeiro could also host a game, adding that there was "no doubt" that Ireland would host one soon.

The league said last year it was also eyeing Australia as a potential future host.