I guess it makes perfect sense that people around the world watch the NFL.. I mean, it’s the biggest and most exciting professional sport in the US. It’s something unique and we’re very proud of our football. But do other countries watch the NFL? Well, the answer is definitely, yes.
I can remember growing up in Scotland and watching it on tv with my family. My Dad was an avid NFL fan since he moved here from the US decades ago and he loved passing on stories and stats about the sport. We’d clear out Sunday night, tune into the big game and watch with rapt attention. From the start, I loved it.
In Ireland, the NFL is always watched in pubs and so I’ve always heard people talking about the sport in their local bar. Whenever there was a big game, you could bet it was on – usually accompanied by a stomach tingling excitement/anticipation. The atmosphere was totally electric. It was definitely something incredibly special.
In England, the NFL is watched in the same passionate and energetic way. When I visited London and made my way to the pubs for the matches, the energy of the fans was palpable. People wear their favorite teams jerseys, paint their faces and go crazy for the game. Football is so much more than sports – it brings families, friends and strangers together for a big party.
In Australia, I’ve heard it’s taken off big time over the last few years. The sheer scale of the game excites Aussie fans and seeing someone of their own succeed, like Jarryd Hayne become so popular, has just driven the popularity off the charts.
In Germany, the tables have slightly turned with the chance of watching NFL in the pubs and instead, I’ve heard that the games are streamed from the US, so Germans watch them from the comfort of their own homes. The games start early on in the morning for them, but they say it’s totally worth it. They watch the games out of curiosity and to experience something to see how the game compares to soccer which is by far the most popular sport.
In Canada, they’ve even had their own league, the CFL. But they still love to watch the American brand of NFL – so it makes sense that Canadians watch the NFL too. Football is one of the few sports that unites us with our neighbors to the south, so it’s no surprise how popular it is among Canadians.
What about the rest of the world? In Asia there have been teams playing and exhibitions too. Even in South Africa there’s been a team for years. So as it turns out, the whole world does watch the NFL. We may have different favorite teams, different times to watch the games but in the end it is still the same sport. It’s an incredible game that brings joy, pride and plenty of memories to millions of fans worldwide.