Excitement for Dublin NFL game 'off the charts'

Wide receiver Justin Jefferson could be the Vikings' star attraction in Dublin, while veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers has signed for the Steelers

The NFL has said the "excitement and demand is really off the charts" one month out from its first regular-season fixture in Ireland.

The Minnesota Vikings and the Pittsburgh Steelers will face each other at Dublin's Croke Park - the home of Gaelic Games - on Sunday 28 September (14:30 BST).

The 82,300-capacity stadium previously hosted the pre-season 'American Bowl' between the Steelers and the Chicago Bears in 1997, while in recent years Dublin's Aviva Stadium has staged college games.

"We are very excited. I've been on a number of Dublin calls this week, and certainly the countdown is on," said NFL executive vice-president Peter O'Reilly.

"As you know well, the excitement and demand around this game is really off the charts, and I know our teams, the Steelers and the Vikings and all of us, can't wait to get on the ground there. There is such pride around this game."

Earlier this week, more tickets were released for the Croke Park game, giving fans who previously missed out the chance to snag a spot in the stadium's iconic Hill 16 stand.

The Steelers, who have won six Super Bowl titles, signed veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers before the new season, with the four-time Most Valuable Player (MVP) signing a one-year deal.

O'Reilly added: "We are focused on really delivering this year at a high level for the Irish fans and for the fans from around the world who converge on Dublin those days, in terms of the game day at Croke Park, but also making sure of the experience that whole week, and for those who may not be able to attend the game, to feel connected to it as well.

"We will be looking at all pieces of it and evaluating as we go - and frankly, as you know, we have really high expectations for what this can be in terms of an incredible experience for our fans, our teams, and our partners there."

The Dublin game is one of a record seven international matches that will be played during the 2025 NFL season, with Spain another first-time venue for a regular-season game.

After taking on the Steelers in Dublin, the Vikings will face the Cleveland Browns at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London on 5 October.

Full schedule of NFL international games 2025

• Friday, 5 September - Kansas City Chiefs v Los Angeles Chargers (Sao Paulo)

• Sunday, 28 September - Minnesota Vikings v Pittsburgh Steelers (Dublin)

• Sunday, 5 October - Minnesota Vikings v Cleveland Browns (Tottenham, London)

• Sunday, 12 October - Denver Broncos v New York Jets (Tottenham, London)

• Sunday, 19 October - Los Angeles Rams v Jacksonville Jaguars (Wembley, London)

• Sunday, 9 November - Atlanta Falcons v Indianapolis Colts (Berlin)

• Sunday, 16 November - Washington Commanders v Miami Dolphins (Madrid)