In a groundbreaking move, the National Football League (NFL) has announced that YouTube and YouTube TV will serve as the exclusive broadcasters for the inaugural game of the 2025 season, set to take place in São Paulo, Brazil. This Week 1 Friday matchup marks the NFL’s first regular-season game in Brazil and will be accessible for free to viewers worldwide through YouTube’s platforms.
This partnership underscores the deepening relationship between the NFL and Google, which began in 2015 with the launch of the official NFL channel on YouTube. Over the years, this collaboration has expanded to include channels for all 32 NFL teams and additional league channels such as NFL Films, NFL Network, and Mundo NFL. The introduction of NFL Sunday Ticket to YouTube and YouTube TV further solidified this alliance, offering fans comprehensive access to out-of-market Sunday afternoon games.
The decision to broadcast the Brazil game exclusively on YouTube aligns with the NFL’s strategic initiative to globalize American football and reach a broader audience. By leveraging YouTube’s extensive global reach, the league aims to engage fans beyond traditional broadcast methods. In 2024 alone, viewers spent approximately 350 million hours consuming NFL content on YouTube, highlighting the platform’s significance in the league’s digital strategy.
Following the Brazil game, the NFL has scheduled additional international fixtures, including games in Dublin, Ireland, and London, England, at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. While details regarding broadcasting rights for these subsequent games remain undisclosed, the exclusive partnership with YouTube for the Brazil game sets a precedent for future collaborations.
For the 2025-2026 season, NFL Sunday Ticket will continue to be available through YouTube and YouTube TV, offering various subscription plans. The Sunday Ticket + YouTube TV plan is priced at $378 for the year, while non-YouTube TV subscribers can access the service for $479 annually. These packages provide fans with extensive coverage of out-of-market games, enhancing the viewing experience for football enthusiasts.
This exclusive broadcasting arrangement not only signifies a shift in how NFL games are distributed but also reflects the evolving landscape of sports media consumption. By partnering with YouTube, the NFL is embracing digital platforms to cater to the preferences of a global, tech-savvy audience.
