NFL returns to Wembley with an eye on a place in British hearts
AMERICAN Football chiefs hope the latest NFL match at Wembley on Sunday can help achieve their goal of establishing the sport among Britain’s top five.
Pittsburgh Steelers take on Minnesota Vikings in a sell-out contest in north-west London this weekend in the seventh edition of the International Series.
NFL will return next month, when Jacksonville Jaguars, whose owner Shahid Khan bought Fulham in July and has committed to four annual matches in London, play San Francisco 49ers.
“Our goal is to move up the rankings of popularity of sport,” said vide-president of NFL International Chris Parsons.
“We want to really push into that top-five position.”
Parsons added that Britain was the NFL’s main focus for global expansion.
A third annual game in the capital and even a London-based franchise have been mooted.