Aerial view of football field (Fans eagerly await the Super Bowl kickoff)
The Super Bowl transcends its status as just the championship game of America’s most-watched sport. Over six decades, this National Football League (NFL) finale has evolved into a significant U.S. cultural phenomenon, complete with its extravagant halftime show and memorable advertisements, drawing in millions of viewers from across the globe.
Last year’s Super Bowl captivated a global audience of 62 million viewers, in addition to the 123 million in the United States. This year, anticipation is high that the Super Bowl in New Orleans on February 9, featuring a clash between the reigning champion Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles, could potentially surpass these impressive figures.
Adding to the event’s prestige, President Trump announced plans to attend this year’s game, marking the first time a sitting U.S. president will be present at the Super Bowl. While he refrained from making an official prediction, his comments subtly hinted at support for Chiefs’ quarterback Patrick Mahomes, a three-time Super Bowl champion. “I don’t want to say, but there’s a certain quarterback that seems to be a pretty good winner,” Trump remarked.
This Super Bowl matchup is a highly anticipated rematch of the game played two years prior between the same two teams. The Chiefs, spearheaded by the iconic Mahomes, are aiming for an unprecedented third consecutive Super Bowl victory. Notably, they defeated the Eagles in their previous Super Bowl encounter and continued their winning streak the following year against the San Francisco 49ers in the 2024 Super Bowl.
This Sunday, the Super Bowl broadcast will reach an extensive network of 180 countries, with commentary delivered by sportscasters in approximately 20 languages. The event already boasts a substantial following in countries like Canada and the United Kingdom, where surveys indicate that 69% and 49% of the population, respectively, tune in to the Super Bowl at least occasionally, according to data from Kantar, a well-regarded data analytics firm.
The burgeoning global popularity of American football is a direct result of the NFL’s strategic initiatives to broaden its international appeal, targeting both viewers and potential players. The league took a significant step in 2005 by hosting its inaugural regular season game outside of the U.S. in Mexico City, featuring the Arizona Cardinals and the San Francisco 49ers.
Since that landmark event, the NFL has staged 50 regular season games in international locations, including Canada, the United Kingdom, and Germany. The Philadelphia Eagles themselves launched their 2024 regular season with a game in Brazil. In October 2024, London’s Wembley Stadium witnessed a commanding victory by the Jacksonville Jaguars over the New England Patriots, played before a roaring crowd of 86,000 European fans. Looking ahead, the Miami Dolphins are set to participate in the NFL’s first-ever game in Spain during the 2025–2026 season, further cementing the sport’s global footprint.
Just watch the entire stadium at Allianz Arena singing to John Denver’s “Take Me Home, Country Roads” (very popular with the Oktoberfest crowd, I have learned) in the final two minutes pic.twitter.com/PwMUG2Z08n
— JennaLaineESPN (@JennaLaineESPN) November 13, 2022
The massive crowds attending NFL international games are drawn to more than just football; they are embracing a slice of American culture. A vivid example of this cultural exchange occurred in Munich, where thousands of fans passionately sang along to John Denver’s timeless anthem, “Take Me Home, Country Roads,” demonstrating the unifying power of music and shared cultural moments.
This year’s Super Bowl halftime show, headlined by Kendrick Lamar, will further amplify American musical heritage. Lamar, a highly acclaimed figure in hip-hop and rap – genres originating in the U.S. during the 1970s – boasts an impressive collection of 22 Grammy Awards and has performed across six continents, showcasing the global reach of American music.
Jordan Mailata, an international player in the NFL, ready for Super Bowl action
American football’s international allure also extends to player recruitment, attracting talent from diverse backgrounds. This year’s Super Bowl will feature several foreign-born players, including two prominent starters.
Jordan Mailata, originally a professional rugby player from Australia, transitioned to the NFL in 2018 through the International Player Pathway program. This NFL initiative is designed to integrate elite global athletes into American football. Remarkably, Mailata, now a leading offensive lineman in the league, had no prior experience with American football before joining the program. In the upcoming Super Bowl, he will be instrumental in protecting Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts and creating running lanes for star running back Saquon Barkley.
On the Chiefs’ side, defensive end George Karlaftis, born in Athens, Greece, will be a key player in disrupting the Eagles’ formidable rushing attack. Karlaftis’s athletic background includes water polo and soccer in Greece. He transitioned to football in eighth grade after relocating to the U.S. state of Indiana.
Karlaftis aims to bolster the Kansas City team’s chances of securing their fourth Super Bowl championship in six years by protecting Mahomes, a three-time Super Bowl MVP. Regardless of the final score, the Super Bowl’s global spectacle will undoubtedly captivate millions of fans worldwide, underscoring its position as a truly international sporting and cultural event.
Fred Bowen is a freelance writer.
