Pittsburgh Steelers to play in Croke Park as first NFL game in Ireland confirmed

The NFL will host its first regular-season game in Dublin in 2025, it was confirmed today.

What will be one of the largest international sporting events to ever take place on the island of Ireland will be held in Croke Park in the autumn, with the Pittsburgh Steelers the designated home team.

The opposition will be revealed at a later date, with the Steelers opponents for home games already known, it will be one of the Green Bay Packers, Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins, Minnesota Vikings, Indianapolis Colts or Seattle Seahawks.

The announcement was made this afternoon in New Orleans, ahead of Sunday's Super Bowl between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles.

The Irish Government told RTÉ Sport that it has committed to providing just short of €10 million in state funding for the event - to cover a licence fee, security, transport and other costs around the venue - following "extensive discussions and negotiations with the NFL, which included a comprehensive assessment of costs and benefits."

The Government is anticipating 30,000 international visitors, a €64m boost in economic activity and significant tax returns to the exchequer. It expects the NFL to spend €14m-€18m, mostly in the Irish economy, on staging the game here.

NFL executive vice-president Peter O'Reilly said that "the game will be delivered in partnership with the Irish government" and that "We are very grateful for their partnership and support of this historic game."

The Steelers were awarded marketing rights to expand team activities to the island of Ireland in 2023. Two sold-out watch parties at the Hogan Suite in Croke Park followed, along with various other events across the island of Ireland