The Chicago Bears will take their act to the United Kingdom during the 2024 season as the team announced Thursday it will play a home game there.
A date and opponent have yet to be determined, but one of the Bears’ nine home games will be played at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London. It was the team’s turn to have a home game played overseas, something the Bears have not done previously.
“Every game the Chicago Bears play is rich in tradition, culture and passion,” Chairman George McCaskey said in a statement. “And every year, game after game, we look forward to welcoming fans to experience that richness. This year, we will take our storied franchise and tradition back to London and share internationally what our fans locally experience at every game. We are excited to join the many NFL teams who are expanding internationally to play a game in London during our 2024 season.”
With the introduction of the 17-game season in 2021, the NFL has rotated between AFC and NFC teams playing home games internationally. In 2023, five AFC teams played home games outside of the United States. The Bears are expected to be one of five NFC teams to have a home game moved this year.
More international games are likely coming. Last year NFL owners voted to increase the number to eight international games that could be played beginning in 2025. Owners also passed a resolution that could result in each team playing one international game every four years.
The Bears last went to the UK in 2019, when they lost to the Raiders at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium — the first NFL game played at the soccer venue. The Bears defeated the Buccaneers at Wembley Stadium in London in 2011. The Bears also played the Cowboys in London during the 1986 preseason.
The Bears have the UK and Spain as part of their Global Markets Program. The league has allowed teams to choose international spots to directly engage fans and partners.
The Bears have been very involved in Spain the last two years and the NFL might play games there in the future, but Sao Paolo, Brazil, was selected instead to host a game for the first time next season.
