The Kansas City Chiefs are all about shining their big play, fireworks go boom kind of football. Now, they are preparing to compete in an international match in Brazil! Over the last five years, the Chiefs have established themselves as perhaps the most successful franchise in the NFL. Their eyes are currently on taking their act worldwide by playing more internationally. Clark Hunt, the franchise’s owner, is just as salivating at the prospects of getting to regularly compete in an international game. He’s looking to join as either the home or away team.
The Chiefs take the idea of global expansion pretty seriously. They’re hoping to highlight an explosive brand of football, led by signal-caller Patrick Mahomes’ deep shots, improvisational playmaking and his even-deeper bond on the field with tight end Travis Kelce. The team anticipates demonstrating impressive speed with receiver Xavier Worthy and running back Isiah Pacheco, while defensive tackle Chris Jones will showcase tenacity. Defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo intends to use strategic blitzes that have made the Chiefs’ defense a trademark element of the team.
The Chiefs hosted their first international match back in 2015, where they defeated the Detroit Lions 45-10 in London. Since then, they’ve grown to really enjoy touring abroad. So much success has encouraged Hunt to call for regular forays abroad on an annual basis. He stated, “We’ve been very transparent in our desire to become the world’s team.”
Along with their recent success on the field, the Chiefs have experienced a popularity boom both in the U.S and abroad. In recent months, the team has released several videos on their social media accounts highlighting how many fans in Brazil have tuned into their previous games. That passion reached a fever pitch during the AFC divisional round game against the Houston Texans. It shattered records for ESPN, drawing an incredible 32.7 million viewers!
Kansas City’s head coach Andy Reid noted how the team’s international presence resonates with fans, particularly children, who proudly donned red, white, and yellow Chiefs jerseys. Looking back on his team’s journey, Chiefs’ president Mark Donovan was amazed. Back in 2009 and 2010, we were still lagging far enough behind to have to climb all the way up from outside the top 10.
Royalty fueled by winning the Chiefs are convinced their recent success has expanded their international fan base. They took home three Super Bowls and made it to five of the last six championships since that 2019 season. Donovan noted that “The NFL knows where every one of their teams fans live,” making clear how important it is to widen their net.
Chris Jones echoed this sentiment, stating, “We feel privileged to be an NFL ambassador of sorts. We know American football is growing here. We respect soccer. Both can exist at the same time and have a lot of success.” The Chiefs have a unique and important role in growing the game of football globally. In order to most effectively fulfill this vital responsibility, they need to value both equities.
The upcoming game in Brazil presents an opportunity for the Chiefs to deepen their connection with fans in South America. There will be photographs and artifacts on display to educate attendees about the team’s standout athletes and long history.
Travis Kelce
recently shared that his fame has been amplified due to his high-profile relationship with pop star Taylor Swift. Donovan called Swift “an organic member of Chiefs Kingdom,” a sign that her role within the organization is expanding. He continued, “From the preliminary information I’m getting…she’s intending on being at Chiefs games a lot more. It’s an incredible opportunity for us, but we try to look at it as she’s a member of our family, so we try to treat her that way.”As the Chiefs prepare for their international game, they remain focused on their overarching goal: to cultivate the Chiefs Kingdom across the globe. They understand that growing their footprint not only increases their brand but fortifies American football’s influence globally.
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