The NFL will release their full schedule later this week, but they have officially cancelled all of their international games for 2020.
The NFL is planning to release the preseason and regular season schedules by Friday, May 9, but the schedule will not consist of any international games this year.
“After considerable analysis, we believe the decision to play all our games domestically this season is the right one for our players, our clubs, and all our fans in the US, Mexico and UK,” said NFL Executive Vice President, Chief Strategy & Growth Officer Christopher Halpin in a press release. “We greatly appreciate the support of our governmental and stadium partners in Mexico and the United Kingdom, who all agree with this decision, and we look forward to returning for games in both countries in the 2021 season.”
The NFL has held at least one game abroad every season since 2007, but the global pandemic shifted the league’s priority to safety rather than the financial gain of playing in an international market.
The Seahawks were not confirmed to be playing internationally in 2020, although the Falcons and Cardinals were slated to host games in London and Mexico City, respectively, two opponents Seattle could easily have been scheduled to play abroad.
The Seahawks played abroad in 2018, when they faced the Raiders in London’s Wembley Stadium and won handily by a score of 27-3.
It was their first, and to date only, game outside of the United States.
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