*** Regarding the presence of the event at emblematic points, from Thursday until Sunday, the day of the clash, three giant helmets will be displayed in front of the Cibeles Palace (current headquarters of the Madrid City Council).
Madrid is preparing to celebrate its first official NFL American football game on November 16, which will pit the Washington Commanders against the Miami Dolphins at the Santiago Bernabéu stadium, and throughout the previous week several actions will serve to give relevance to the event in the city.
Regarding the presence of the event at emblematic points, from Thursday to Sunday, the day of the clash, three giant helmets will be displayed in front of the Cibeles Palace (current headquarters of the Madrid City Council).
In addition, “meninas” – like those immortalized in the homonymous painting from the 17th century painted by Diego de Silva y Velázquez – characterized by the two teams and the NFL can be seen in various places in the capital of Spain. On November 15, a mini “flag football” field will be opened so that visitors can learn about this discipline and can participate in skill tests or acquire the official match ball.
Marketing will also be present in another “hot spot” throughout the week: the official NFL Shop that will be installed in the stadium itself from Friday and will have official products from the 32 teams in the league and exclusive items from the NFL Madrid Game 2025 in addition to hosting a Madden NFL 26 video game tournament.
Likewise, the NFL Academy, based in the United Kingdom, will play for the first time in Spain, free and open to the public at the Vallehermoso Stadium, on Friday, November 14 and Saturday, November 15. The team will face Mexico’s Friendship Bowl Academy and Spain’s Madrid Team, respectively.
Regarding team-driven initiatives, the Miami Dolphins will set up their “fan zone” in the central Plaza de España from Thursday, November 13 to Saturday, November 15, offering their fans a mix of American culture, American football and Spanish traditions. On the other hand, the Collins Irish Tavern will be the official venue from November 10 to 16 and will host a party on match day.
There are other sets that will be seen in Madrid. One of them, obviously, the Washington Commanders, rivals of the Dolphins, who will organize two meetings with fans in Madrid; on Friday the 14th at The Irish Rover and on Sunday the 16th, before the game, at the James Joyce Irish Pub.
The other is the Kansas City Chiefs as part of the NFL’s Global Market Program, which grants clubs international marketing rights to expand their brand beyond the United States.
In your case, all the activity will focus on the “Chiefs House” space, at the Pestana CR7 Gran Vía hotel, from Thursday, November 13 to Saturday, November 15. The visit of the team legend Dante Hall and the presentation of the new Spanish mascot, KC Lobazo, will be some of the main attractions they will offer during those days.
“We are delighted to bring the NFL to Spain for our first game in Madrid. The league, together with our clubs and partners, will land in Madrid with exciting events and free experiences for fans to enjoy throughout the week, celebrating this very special moment in our history,” said Rafa de los Santos, director of NFL Spain, in a statement from the organization.
Meanwhile, the president of the regional government of Madrid, Isabel Díaz Ayuso (Popular Party, center-right), explained that her region is the “most fashionable in the world right now,” that it is “vibrant, dynamic and open” and “everyone wants to visit.”
“We offer the best cultural, gastronomic, heritage and leisure offering that currently exists. With the celebration of the first NFL game in Spain in 2025, in the best sports stadium in the world – the Bernabéu -, Madrid reinforces its position as a leading destination for major international sporting events,” he said in a press release released by the NFL. EFE
