American football history will be made in Ireland this autumn, as the NFL has confirmed that the Pittsburgh Steelers will host the Minnesota Vikings at Croke Park in Dublin on Sunday, 28 September 2025. This marks the first time a regular season NFL game will be played on Irish soil.
Kick-off is set for 2:30pm Irish time (9:30am ET), with the game broadcast live on NFL Network. International viewers can watch via NFL Game Pass on DAZN, while fans in the U.S. can stream the action on NFL+.
The Steelers, designated as the home team for the Dublin game, have long-standing ties to Ireland through the Rooney family. Team President Art Rooney II highlighted the personal significance of the match:
"The opportunity for the Pittsburgh Steelers to play in Ireland is truly special, not only because of the Rooney family history there but because it allows us to connect with Irish fans while also giving fans who travel from Pittsburgh and beyond a unique football experience."
The late Dan Rooney, former U.S. Ambassador to Ireland and Steelers chairman, was a proud co-founder of The Ireland Funds and an advocate for strengthening ties between Ireland and the U.S. He had long hoped to see a regular season NFL game played in Ireland.
Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin echoed those sentiments:
“We’re unbelievably excited about this opportunity to play in Dublin for two very specific reasons. First, it’s an honour to represent the game internationally and introduce it to new fans. And second, I think about how much this would have meant to Ambassador Rooney. He was passionate about Ireland and would be thrilled to see this happen.”
Croke Park to Host NFL Once Again
The game will take place at Dublin’s iconic Croke Park – the historic home of the GAA and one of the largest stadiums in Europe. Though it’s primarily known for Gaelic football and hurling, the venue has hosted major events ranging from the Special Olympics to concerts by U2, Beyoncé, and Taylor Swift.
This won’t be the Steelers’ first visit to Croke Park. They played there in a 1997 pre-season game against the Chicago Bears during “The American Bowl,” marking the only previous NFL game held in Ireland – until now.
Steelers’ Irish Connection Growing Stronger
The Steelers have seen a surge in popularity across Ireland in recent years. In 2023, they were granted marketing rights for Ireland under the NFL’s Global Markets Program. Since then, they’ve hosted a range of fan-focused events, including youth football clinics, watch parties, and most recently, their first-ever Draft Party on Irish soil.
To further strengthen their Irish presence, the Steelers announced a four-year partnership with Aer Lingus earlier this year. The airline is now the Official Airline of Steelers Ireland and a founding partner of the team’s Irish operations. Aer Lingus offers 21 direct routes from North America to Ireland and 70 additional routes from across Europe and the UK, making travel to the game easier for fans worldwide.
Fans interested in attending the game can register for ticket updates at nfl.com/dublin, with ticket sales expected to go live later this summer.
The full 2025 NFL schedule, including other international games, will be revealed on Wednesday, 15 May at 8pm (ET).
