The San Francisco 49ers could be headed across the Atlantic to play a game in the 2025 season.
According to NFL Media’s Tom Pelissero, the NFL on Friday announced the New York Jets, Cleveland Browns and Jacksonville Jaguars will all play international games next season. The Jets and Browns will play at Tottenham Stadium, while the Jaguars will be at Wembley. Dates and times will be announced with the NFL schedule sometime in May.
Pelissero also noted the NFL can schedule up to eight international games, and that Madrid and Berlin will both host games in 2025. That leaves the door open for other opportunities for the 49ers to go overseas, although teams for those games haven’t been announced.
San Francisco is slated to play against the Jaguars and Browns next year, putting them in the mix to play in one of those London games.
However, it’s likely the teams announced Friday will be the home team in those matchups, which takes the Jaguars off the table. The 49ers are scheduled to host Jacksonville at Levi’s Stadium.
Their matchup against Cleveland remains in play though since that’s a road game for the 49ers. The Browns got onto San Francisco’s schedule by way of both teams finishing last in their respective divisions.
The 49ers haven’t played an international game since 2012 when they faced the Jaguars at Wembley. That year they rolled the Jags 42-10.
With what projects as a weak schedule, the 49ers may be subjected by the NFL to an international trip, particularly since San Francisco has a strong following in England.