Madrid, Spain - In a moment that blends two global sporting cultures, Real Madrid’s renovated Bernabéu Stadium has hosted the NFL’s first ever regular-season game in Spain, marking a milestone in the league’s international expansion. The historic matchup featured the Miami Dolphins as the designated home team against the Washington Commanders, transforming one of Europe’s most iconic football venues into a full American gridiron.

For the NFL, Madrid becomes the fourth European city to secure a regular-season fixture, joining London, Munich and Frankfurt. League officials said the decision reflects growing momentum across Spain, where more than 13 million people now follow American football. Real Madrid president Florentino Pérez welcomed the partnership as a symbolic meeting point between two global sports institutions, underscoring the stadium’s €1.7 billion modernization that enables rapid pitch conversion, advanced lighting, and multi-sport hosting capacity.

Demand reflected the moment. More than 700,000 ticket requests were logged when sales opened, highlighting the scale of global interest and the appeal of a marquee NFL game staged inside European football’s premier arena.

The Bernabéu’s transformation was both technical and cultural. A retractable roof, freshly deployed end zones, and hybrid turf created an NFL-ready field inside a stadium usually reserved for Champions League nights. Real Madrid shared behind-the-scenes footage of the conversion, capturing the speed with which crews re-shaped the pitch for an entirely different sport.

🤩 ¡El Bernabéu como nunca lo habías visto antes! pic.twitter.com/1biJTk9qrQ

— Real Madrid C.F. (@realmadrid) November 16, 2025   

Just an incredible atmosphere at The Bernabéu 🔥 @realmadrid

WASvsMIA on @NFLNetwork
Also streaming on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/T4gunuC8cN

— NFL (@NFL) November 16, 2025

On the field, the event delivered the intensity expected from a showcase game. The Miami Dolphins defeated the Washington Commanders 27–24 in overtime, securing the first NFL victory ever recorded on Spanish soil. Miami quarterback Tua Tagovailoa threw for more than 280 yards and two touchdowns, while Tyreek Hill electrified the Bernabéu with a 40-yard score that brought a football crowd to its feet in a totally new way.

Washington quarterback Jayden Daniels kept the contest alive with a late fourth-quarter drive, pushing the matchup into overtime. But after Miami’s defense forced a stop, kicker Jason Sanders sealed the win with a composed game-winning field goal.

For Madrid’s football loyalists and NFL newcomers, the night was an experiment in sporting fusion. Tactical huddles replaced build-up play, booming punts arced beneath the stadium’s retractable roof, and the Bernabéu roared to a different rhythm, one shaped by pads, helmets and U.S. broadcast-style entertainment.

As football met football, the Bernabéu stood at the center of a global sporting crossover, offering a preview of how American football might grow across Europe with the help of stadiums engineered for the future.