'We hope to be chosen!' - Four-time Super Bowl champions set their sights on Dublin game

Speculation is mounting - on both sides of the Atlantic - that Ireland may be in line to host another regular-season NFL game in 2026.

It comes after one the league's most-dominant franchises - the Kansas City Chiefs - informed the NFL that they would like to be considered for the next NFL game to be played in Dublin.

Speculation about future fixtures in Ireland comes just over three weeks before Croke Park is due to host its first ever regular-season NFL game.

The fixture between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Minnesota Vikings - on Sunday, September 28 - is a complete sell-out.

Commenting at the weekend, Chief Marketing Officer and Executive Vice-President for the Kansas City Chiefs, Lara Krug expressed an interest in playing in Dublin as part of the NFL's international games in 2026. 

Speaking to RTÉ Sport, she said: "Who gets to play internationally is really the league's decision as to the schedule every year but we always have our hand raised to participate. We hope to be chosen to play in Ireland next season." 

Krug also spoke on what makes Ireland such an attractive destination for the Chiefs. "I don't think we were surprised at all by the response from Irish fans to the first NFL game played in Dublin this year. Irish fans are passionate, and although Ireland is a smaller country in both size and population, you can see that there is real excitement for the NFL there."

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The Chiefs began their season with defeat to the Los Angeles Chargers in Sao Paulo, Brazil as they look to extend their global brand and fanbase to new markets starting with Ireland next season. 

The franchise was granted marketing rights for Ireland in March of this year which paves the way for them to build a strong relationship with NFL fans across the country as well as from a commercial and business perspective as they continue to grow internationally as a franchise.

On Monday September 8, The Chiefs unveiled a new version of their mascot specifically for the Irish market as part of their global rights program. The KC Wolf has long been the Chiefs beloved mascot but they have now introduced 'KC O' Wolf' as part of their approach to marketing in Ireland. 

The Chiefs describe the new mascot as "a spirited trickster with a golden heart channeling Irish charm, wild energy and unwavering devotion and rallies fans with laughter, loyalty and a wink of mischief". 

The Wolf Pack has arrived

KC Wolf has welcomed some trusted friends to help spread joy, gameday spirit, and a little mischief across the world. Look out for new mascot shenanigans all season long! pic.twitter.com/e48xHnCMUz

— Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) September 8, 2025

The new mascot is expected to appear at the festivities around the inaugural NFL game in Dublin later this month. It's just one of Chief's new marketing ideas as they look to build up their exposure and fan base in the country going forward ahead of any potential visit.

The Chiefs may not have a strong Irish connection like some other teams such as the Steelers. However, their recent success appearing in five of the last six super Bowls winning three, will have caught the eye of many new fans of the sport as NFL interest in Ireland continues to surge. 

The arrival of NFL superstars such as Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce would certainly make a huge impact on the Irish market so it presents a great opportunity for the Chiefs to build a strong fanbase across Ireland. 

Kelce's fiancé, global superstar Taylor Swift, would also demand huge excitement amongst Irish fans if she was to attend the potential game in Ireland. The singer would be no stranger to Dublin after she performed at Aviva Stadium during her eras tour in 2024. 

Sports Minister Patrick O'Donovan, speaking at an NFL Flag event in Clondalkin last week,  spoke of his desire to bring further events to Ireland. There is a massive appetite for American Football in Ireland as queues of over half a million people tried to secure tickets for the inaugural NFL game in Dublin this month. 

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The Minnesota Vikings and Pittsburgh Steelers, who will meet in Croke Park on September 28, started the new season with hard-fought victories.

The Steelers claimed a last-gasp victory over the New York Jets as quarterback Aaron Rogers returned to haunt his old team in his NFL debut for Pittsburgh. The Minnesota Vikings edged the Chicago Bears with a huge comeback in the fourth quarter to clinch an opening win as part of a dramatic Monday Night Football encounter. 

Both teams getting off to a winning start will only increase the anticipation before they meet in a sold-out Croke Park in week four of the NFL regular season. It's an exciting time to be a fan of American football in Ireland as the partnership with the NFL continues to grow with many more games and events expected in the coming years.