The Pittsburgh Steelers will play the Minnesota Vikings for the NFL's first-ever regular season game in Ireland this September.
While the Steelers had already been announced as the home team for the game in Dublin's Croke Park, their opponent wasn't announced until yesterday, Tuesday, May 13.
The Steelers- Vikings game in Ireland's capital city of Dublin will be played at 2:30 pm local time on Sunday, September 28.
It will be broadcast on NFL Network and streamed on NFL+. The Steelers said on Tuesday that NFL Game Pass on DAZN will broadcast all 2025 International Games in international markets outside of the US.
Tickets for the historic Steelers - Vikings match-up in Dublin are set to go on sale this summer.
Set your alarm, Dublin. The NFL is coming to town! 💚
Your official 2025 NFL Dublin Game 🇮🇪 pic.twitter.com/JYMFY6zIPe
— NFL UK & Ireland (@NFLUKIRE) May 13, 2025
"Massively excited"
TD Patrick O'Donovan, Ireland's Minister for Arts, Culture, Communications Media and Sport, described the NFL game as an "absolutely amazing opportunity" and said he is looking forward to welcoming visitors to Ireland for the event.
TD Charlie McConalogue, Minister of State for Arts, Culture, Communications Media and Sport with Special Responsibility for Sport and Postal Policy, added: "We're all massively excited across Ireland."
Today @NFLUKIRE announced @steelers will play the @Vikings in the 1st ever competitive NFL game to take place in Ireland
D'fhógair @NFLUKIRE inniu gurb iad @Vikings an fhoireann a imreos @steelers sa chéad chluiche iomaíoch NFL in Éirinn 🏈@podonovan @McConalogue @officialgaa pic.twitter.com/omm1XAmxKO
— Tourism-Culture-Arts-Gaeltacht-Sport-Media (@DeptCultureIRL) May 13, 2025
Steelers "thrilled" for Dublin game
Steelers President Art Rooney, II said on Tuesday: "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.
"We are thrilled to be part of this historic event and to represent Pittsburgh on a global stage."
Week 4 in The Emerald Isle ☘️#NFLDublinGame | 📝: https://t.co/KLvpnggEad pic.twitter.com/UVS1OU2vFu
— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) May 13, 2025
Steelers Coach Mike Tomlin said: "We're unbelievably excited about this opportunity to play in Dublin for two very specific reasons.
"First, it is an honor and a privilege to represent the game of American football internationally and maybe introduce it to a new set of fans. It is a great honor to play the game that we love and be able to do so on foreign soil.
"Number two, I smile when I think about the late great Ambassador [Dan] Rooney and how fired up he would be about this game. I remember when he was Ambassador to Ireland, he would have a Fourth of July flag football game every year. So, I think about him, but I also simply think about the honor and privilege to play our game globally."
.@CoachTomlin on why playing in the #NFLDUBLINGame is significant for the Steelers pic.twitter.com/WJBwOerArU
— Steelers Ireland (@SteelersIreland) May 13, 2025
A "big deal" for the Vikings
Vikings Owner/President Mark Wilf said: "Playing in Ireland's first-ever NFL game is an opportunity to introduce new fans to the Minnesota Vikings and help the league continue to make the game of football more accessible globally.
"To do so against a storied franchise like the Pittsburgh Steelers adds a unique challenge that makes this even more special.
"We are honored to be selected for this historic game and will be anxious to see what promises to be an electric game day environment in Croke Park."
Vikings Head Coach Kevin O'Connell added: "I'm certainly looking at this as a genuine, great opportunity.
"It's one thing to play in some of these international opportunities that the NFL has done such a great job of putting together, but to be the first, to be the first in such a wonderful place like Dublin and with such a great sports culture already, a great venue in Croke Park and 82,000-plus.
"When you think about opportunities to play in unique atmospheres and environments that are experiences for your players, what better way to do that than to play in Dublin for the first time in the regular season, which is a big deal to us."
Dublin then London! 🇮🇪🇬🇧
The #Vikings will become the first NFL team to play in back-to-back international games in different countries in 2025.https://t.co/DvUUNxFkso pic.twitter.com/1o0005Ma6Q
— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) May 13, 2025
NFL in Ireland
While the Steelers - Vikings game will be the NFL's first-ever regular season game played in Ireland, the Steelers did play the Chicago Bears at Dublin's Croke Park previously for a pre-season game in July 1997.
📅 July 27, 1997
— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) March 18, 2020
🏟 Croke Park
📍 Dublin, Ireland
🏈 Steelers 30, Bears 17#StPatricksDay pic.twitter.com/OenVCiQgHZ
Along with the Steelers and Vikings, the Green Bay Packers, the Kansas City Chiefs, the Jacksonville Jaguars, and the New York Jets have marketing rights in Ireland as part of the NFL's Global Markets Program (GMP).
Launched in 2022, the GMP awards NFL clubs international marketing rights to build brand awareness and fandom beyond the US, through fan engagement, events, commercial opportunities, and NFL Flag development.
Meanwhile, two Irish athletes - Mark McNamee and Ross Bolger, who both have backgrounds in GAA - have been named to the NFL's International Player Pathway program Class of 2025.
Established in 2017, the IPP program aims to provide elite international athletes with the opportunity to compete at the NFL level, improve their skills, and ultimately work to earn a spot on an NFL roster.
Charlie Smyth, a former goalkeeper with Down GAA, secured a place on the New Orleans Saints practice squad via the IPP program last year.
Comments