Official: Minnesota Vikings Will Play Multiple Games Outside USA in 2025

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Minnesota Vikings, London
Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

The NFL is a financial monster that has found a way to monetize and glorify just about everything it does. Even unveiling each team’s schedule has become something that many fans mark on their calendar, and that includes the Minnesota Vikings.

For months now, we have known which teams the Vikings will play against next season. For most games, we even knew the “where”. But recently, rumors turned into reports that, not only was Minnesota expected to go overseas for a game outside the USA for the second-straight year… but they were likely to do it twice.

That’s right, one year after flying to the UK for a game at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, where they earned their eighth-straight international victory over Aaron Rodgers and the New York Jets, the Vikings woke up this morning expecting to play two games in that same area in 2025.

Minnesota Vikings taking extended European business trip in 2025

Last season, they played in London Week 5. One year later, they’ll play at the exact same location in Week 5 yet again, this time against the Cleveland Browns. The week before, however, they’ll just a 30-minute plane ride away, in Dublin Ireland, where they will play road team vs the Browns’ AFC North rival, the Pittsburgh Steelers (and maybe Aaron Rodgers again?).

The game against Pittsburgh will be the first game ever played in Ireland. The NFL will take over Croke Park in Dublin for the event. It is the headquarters of the Gaelic Athletic Association and has a capacity of 82,300, which is nearly 10,000 more than U.S. Bank Stadium, which holds 73,000 people.

Related: How Many 2025 MN Vikings Draft Picks Will Make the Final 53-Man Roster?

Yes, it’s possible that the Steelers, as the Jets did last year, will have Aaron Rodgers under center for their overseas contest against the Minnesota Vikings. The future Hall of Famer has yet to sign with a team, and Pittsburgh remains his most likely landing spot.

Vikings International Itinerary: Dublin (IE) –> London (UK)

Pittsburgh, theoretically, should be the tougher opponent of these two. But that’s largely because Kevin Stefanski’s Browns currently look like a dumpster fire. They brought back veteran Joe Flacco and drafted rookies Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders.

Meanwhile, the most expensive asset in franchise history, Deshaun Watson, is expected to miss most of the season after re-tearing his achilles in October… and they aren’t even mad about it.

So in 2025, the Minnesota Vikings will become the first NFL team ever to play back-to-back games overseas. On its face, that seems like a sizable undertaking on the surface, but in reality, it could be a blessing in disguise for Kevin O’Connell & Co.

Overseas stretch should actually benefit the 2025 MN Vikings

Not only do both the Steelers and Browns look like two teams in complete disarray, but both international contests will also turn two of Minnesota’s road games this season, into neutral site games (where they have completely dominated going all the way back to 1983).

Those who know the history understand that the MN Vikings are probably the greatest overseas NFL team… ever. Not only are they undefeated in four regular season international games, but Minnesota has won all four of its’ exhibition games abroad too.

Because they are playing in back-to-back weeks, the Vikings don’t have to make a trip back stateside, between contests, either. Instead, they can settle in early, knowing it’s a long trip. Hell, they’ll pretty much be the Irish/British Vikings by the time week five is done.

It stands to reason that the Minnesota Vikings will get their by week immediately following their extended stay overseas. That would mean another early week six bye, just like in 2024.

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