The audience's knowledge and enthusiasm at the taping — some traveled from as far away as Austria — was a sign of the N.F.L.'s rising stature in a country whose sports landscape is ruled by soccer. Football remains far behind the national sport, but 3.6 million Germans say they are avid N.F.L.Unfortunately, high infrastructure costs are another impediment. Unlike basketball, which only needs a ball and two hoops, American football requires a very specific infrastructure, along with expensive sports equipment, which makes it so difficult to popularize the sport in other countries.(In the U.K. and Ireland, there are reportedly 14.3 million American football fans, while Germany boasts 18 million.) And it's not just the NFL as a whole that's investing abroad.

Which countries like American football the most : According to the Global Web Index, Mexico is the country with the most NFL followers outside the United States. The North American neighbors of the United States have over 23 million people following the league. They are closely followed by Brazil with approximately 20 million fans.

Why does Germany love the NFL

A long history of American Football in Germany

American GIs stationed in Germany brought the sport with them from their home country after the Second World War. In 1977, the Frankfurt Lions became the first American football club in Germany. More clubs followed and the first games were played in 1979.

Why is American football so popular in Germany : American football has deep roots in Germany, going back to the World War II when U.S. troops were stationed on military bases throughout the country. American football was played on those bases by soldiers, many of whom had played in college.

Dive deeper into the growing popularity of the NFL in Europe, especially in Germany. While the name of the game is American football, the NFL is not limited to American fans and is enjoyed by people worldwide. History has shown that the game is popular in many countries, especially those in Europe.

The European surroundings don't support the sports

Additionally, Europeans only have one governing body for NFL games all around the continent. Then again, not many Europeans play NFL, and they prefer their more original and freer versions of rugby (see the previous point).

Why does Germany like the NFL

A long history of American Football in Germany

The hype surrounding American football in Germany is no coincidence. American GIs stationed in Germany brought the sport with them from their home country after the Second World War. In 1977, the Frankfurt Lions became the first American football club in Germany.The NFL continues to grow in popularity in Europe, with more and more games being played across the Atlantic Ocean from the league's home base of the United States. With the increase in attention comes a rise in fandom for the individual teams, with some proving more popular than others.In Europe, traditional football (soccer in the United States) has long reigned supreme. Yet, American football is gaining traction, especially in Germany.

As part of the NFL's Global Markets Program (GMP), the Chiefs are one of five teams — along with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Carolina Panthers, Atlanta Falcons and the New England Patriots — to have marketing, fan engagement and commercialization access in Germany.

What is Germany’s favorite NFL team : Who is the most popular NFL team in Germany As per a survey by German-speaking American Football News service FootballR that involved over 3,000 respondents, the most popular NFL team in Germany are the Green Bay Packers. They account for one in every 10 German fans.

Why isn’t American football popular in Europe : In conclusion, American football may be popular in other non-American countries, but not in Europe. It's generally because Europeans can't understand how Americans play football games, and they prefer to play the rugby version that originates from their continent.

Why is American football popular in Germany

A long history of American Football in Germany

The hype surrounding American football in Germany is no coincidence. American GIs stationed in Germany brought the sport with them from their home country after the Second World War.

The NFL continues to grow in popularity in Europe, with more and more games being played across the Atlantic Ocean from the league's home base of the United States. With the increase in attention comes a rise in fandom for the individual teams, with some proving more popular than others.The NFL's first regular season game in Germany was played in 2022 when the Tampa Bay Buccaneers defeated the Seattle Seahawks, 21-16. The NFL has also announced it will play a regular season game in São Paulo and Corinthians Arena in 2024 — the first ever in South America.

Who has the biggest fanbase in Germany : In 2020, approximately 22.8 percent of respondents in Germany expressed a particular interest in Bayern Munich, making it the most popular club in the league.