Wembley to Host Gridiron Giants

The new Wembley stadium will play host to American football this year when the NFL stages a regular-season game outside of North America for the first time in its history.

NFL owners voted in October to play up to two games outside the United States every year for the next five years, with just one game to be played in 2007.

"There is great interest in the NFL around the world," said NFL commissioner Roger Goodell. "Playing a limited number of regular-season games outside the United States is the next step for us in serving that interest. This is what our international fans, media partners, and sponsors want. There is no better place to begin this initiative than London. It is one of the great cities of the world with an established and growing fanbase for our game."

The NFL staged its first regular-season game outside the USA in 2005 when the Arizona Cardinals played the San Francisco 49ers in Mexico City.

The UK, Germany, Canada and Mexico were identified as the four priority markets to hold the game due to logistical and broadcast reasons. NFL Europa has been a huge hit in Germany and there was interest in holding the game in that country but ultimately, London was selected.

Wembley has hosted American football in the past and the now-defunct London Monarchs played their home games there when the World League of American Football was at the height of its popularity.

The game will be played at around 6pm London time and Wembley will be confirmed as the venue in the next few weeks.