The Jacksonville Jaguars have been the trendsetters, and the NFL’s urge for food for worldwide soccer video games continues to develop like a bunch of hungry offensive linemen.
In 2013, the Jaguars performed in London for the primary time, and it began an annual journey abroad that continues this weekend when the Jaguars play their 14th sport in England towards the Los Angeles Rams.
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“Shad (Khan) made the decision to come here to support the league’s international growth agenda,” Jaguars President Mark Lamping advised Action Sports Jax in London on Saturday. “There’s no doubt the Jags have been on the forefront of that, and you can see how that’s taken on greater importance for the league as this program has developed.”
All 32 groups have now performed a sport in London. The International Series has expanded to seven video games in 2025 with websites together with England, Germany, Brazil, Ireland, and Spain.
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The Jaguars’ contract expires after this yr’s sport in London, however it’s an anticipated formality that the Jaguars’ relationship will proceed for years to come. The Jaguars’ stadium in Jacksonville is presently beneath renovation, and the settlement with the City of Jacksonville permits for as many as 5 house video games over the following two years to be performed in London.
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“We have ideas, but this is not something we do alone,” mentioned Shad Khan on Saturday morning in London. “We need approval from the league and we’re in the thick of it. I hate to sit here and speculate. As soon as we know, the city of Jacksonville is going to know.”
The Jaguars performed a number of video games in London in 2023 and 2024 and have been the primary crew to ever try this. EverBank Stadium may have restricted capability within the 2026 season throughout development, and in 2027, the Jaguars received’t play any video games in Jacksonville.
“I’m sure we will be playing international games the next two years, but how many remains to be determined again,” mentioned Lamping. “It’s only through the consent of the league how those games are scheduled. “Once we have a decision on where we are going to play, we have to look at any schedule conflicts that may present themselves and that may push us one way or another as well.”
There definitely have been and proceed to be monetary advantages to taking part in video games in London for the Jacksonville Jaguars, however the group has been steadfast in regards to the model worth of this journey for the Jaguars and town of Jacksonville.
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“Both of us have benefited from our presence here, and this week alone, not only is the mayor here and the president of the city council, but you have the largest contingent from the Jacksonville Chamber that’s ever come to a London game,” mentioned Lamping. “They are not here for the financial benefits of the Jaguars; they are here to try and create jobs and bring those jobs back to Jacksonville.”
Action Sports Jax talked to Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan on Saturday morning in London in regards to the journey abroad.
“This economic engine between London and Jacksonville has been revved up,” mentioned Mayor Deegan. “This year we have between 75 and 100 people we met with this week that are interested in locating to Jacksonville, and we’ve signed some historic partnerships this trip.”
Mayor Deegan says the next partnerships have been shaped:
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An MOU (memorandum of understanding) with The Chartered Institute, which is able to accomplice with the UNF College of Business
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The new JAX Hub, which companions with a London enterprise to take startup firms and join them with PaySafe (A London enterprise whose headquarters is now in Jacksonville).
“It’s an amazing opportunity for us,” mentioned Mayor Deegan. “There are many more I can’t talk about yet that I feel will take up residency in Jacksonville. I think it’s been wildly successful, all because the Jaguars decided 12 years ago to come to London.”
For Shad Khan, the London partnership has a number of synergies together with his soccer crew, town of Jacksonville, his relationship with Wembley Stadium, and his English Premier League soccer crew, Fulham.
The straightforward translation is that the Jacksonville and London relationship isn’t going anyplace, however might there be an opportunity that one other worldwide website hosts the Jaguars sooner or later?
“There’s no question London is the priority market for us, and I don’t see that changing in any major way going forward,” mentioned Lamping. “It doesn’t suggest we wouldn’t play in other countries. I bet we probably will at some point in time, but London is the focus.”
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