While Week 1’s showdown between the Kansas City Chiefs and Los Angeles Chargers kicked off the NFL’s 2025 international schedule in São Paulo, Brazil, the second matchup is set for Sunday when the Pittsburgh Steelers and Minnesota Vikings meet in Dublin, Ireland.
The teams have arrived in Dublin, and Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers spoke to the media on Friday, where he expressed excitement about being in Ireland but also voiced concerns about the team’s travel schedule.
Rodgers made it known he wished the team had arrived earlier to experience the culture and explore the country.
“I have a family history going back to Ireland and Scotland, so I’ve always wanted to get over here,” Rodgers said. “I wish… you know, it is what it is, but if the schedule could’ve been a little different, maybe get over on Monday, Tuesday’s a day off, get out and see some things. It’s a beautiful country from what I’ve seen in pictures. I’m a historian, so I kind of know the history geopolitically in the area. I’m a huge fan of Guinness—I don’t really drink beer, but if I do, I drink Guinness. That’s not a [explicit] line.”
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According to ESPN’s Brooke Pryor, the NFL allows teams to set their own travel schedules for international games; the league does not dictate them.
That said, international games are growing and expanding each year, so this is still a new experience for many teams.
The Steelers-Vikings matchup marks the first-ever regular season NFL game to be played in Ireland. It’s not the first NFL game in the country, however. The Steelers were part of a preseason showdown in Ireland back in 1997.
Pittsburgh is coming off its second win of the season last Sunday against the New England Patriots, while the Vikings dominated the Cincinnati Bengals 48-10, improving to 2-1.
Minnesota will also face the Cleveland Browns in Week 5 in London, giving them back-to-back overseas matchups. Both games are scheduled to kickoff at 9:30 a.m. ET.
