LONDON, UK — Editor's note: The video above first aired on Oct. 3, 2022.
The lockers are still warm after being unpacked earlier this week, and yet the Vikings are looking forward to a 2024-25 season with international intrigue.
NFL execs confirmed Thursday that The Purple is one of four clubs selected to take part in an international game this coming fall, playing host at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London. The date and opponent will be announced in the coming months when the league releases its schedule.
"We are honored to once again represent the NFL in the continued effort to make the game of football more accessible globally," said Vikings Owner/President Mark Wilf in a released statement. "We've seen tremendous international support of the Vikings with our previous three London games and with our successful bid to land the United Kingdom as a global market. Our focus will be on winning for the fourth consecutive time in London, along with replicating the incredible game-day environment we enjoy in Minnesota and creating a memorable experience for our partners and fans."
The only downside is that by hosting an international game, the Vikings lose one of their nine 2024-25 home contests that would usually be played at U.S. Bank Stadium.
The three other teams selected to host international games are the Chicago Bears and Jacksonville Jaguars in London, and the Carolina Panthers in Germany.
In recent years the NFL has been scheduling more games overseas, attempting to boost the league's fan base and profile. The Vikings are one of the pioneers, first traveling to Wembley Stadium in 1983 to take on the then-St. Louis Cardinals in the NFL's first-ever international exhibition game.
They returned to the UK in 2013 for a regular season win over the Pittsburgh Steelers and in 2017 to whip the Cleveland Browns. More recently, The Purple clashed with New Orleans in 2022-23 and brought home a 28-25 victory after the Saints missed a double-doink field goal.
Also on Minnesota's worldly resume are exhibition wins in Sweden (1988), Germany (1993) and Japan (1994) with victories.
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