The professional American football has turned the Santiago Bernabéu into one of its international venues. This Sunday, the competition is holding its second official match in Spain, within the framework of a multi-year agreement aimed at expanding its presence in the European market. Here are the key points to understand how the sport works and why every play matters.
What the NFL is and how the competition works
The National Football League (NFL) is the main professional American football league in the United States. It is made up of 32 teams, divided into two conferences—the American Football Conference (AFC) and the National Football Conference (NFC)—which compete during a regular season before playing the playoffs, the knockout phase that culminates with the Super Bowl.
Unlike traditional soccer, the goal is not to put a ball into a goal, but to move it with the ball to the opponent’s scoring zone. To do so, teams alternate between offense and defense phases, with players specialized in each role.
Each team has 11 players on the field. The quarterback is one of the most recognizable figures: he directs the offense and can throw the ball to a teammate or hand it off to another player so that they can run forward.
Four attempts to advance ten yards
One of the fundamental rules for following a game is the downs system, or attempts. The team in possession has four opportunities to advance at least ten yards.
If it reaches that distance, it keeps possession of the ball and gets another four attempts to keep advancing. If it does not, it loses possession and the rival moves on to attack. That is why, during the game, expressions like first down appear—first attempt of a new series—or fourth down—fourth and last attempt. In that final opportunity, the team can try to advance, punt the ball to move it away from its own field, or attempt a field goal if it is in a suitable position.
The ultimate goal is to reach the end zone, the scoring area located at each end of the field. When a player enters it with the ball or receives a valid pass there, they score a touchdown.
How many points a touchdown is worth
The scoreboard in American football does not work like that in European soccer. The main ways to score points are:
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Touchdown: six points. It is achieved by carrying the ball to the opposing end zone.
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Extra point: one point. After a touchdown, the team can attempt a kick between the posts.
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Two-point conversion: two points. Instead of kicking, it can try to run the ball back into the end zone with a play.
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Field goal: three points. It is obtained by kicking the ball between the posts from the field of play.
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Safety: two points. It is awarded to the defense when it manages to stop the opposing player with the ball inside its own end zone, among other situations provided for by the rules.
The combination of these actions explains why the scores are usually higher than in other sports.
How long does an NFL game really last
Regulation time is 60 minutes, divided into four quarters of 15 minutes. However, a game usually lasts around three hours. The difference is due to the fact that the clock stops in different situations: when the ball goes out of bounds, after certain incomplete passes, during timeouts, or when certain interruptions occur. There are also breaks between quarters and a longer halftime between the second and third halves.
Therefore, although the official playing time is one hour, the actual duration of the stadium experience is considerably longer.
Why the NFL has chosen Madrid and the Bernabéu
The presence of the NFL in Madrid is part of the competition’s international strategy to expand its audience beyond the United States. The league seeks to consolidate new markets through official games, fan activities, and promotion programs for American football.
The Santiago Bernabéu hosted the NFL’s first regular-season game in Spain on November 16, 2025, when the Miami Dolphins defeated the Washington Commanders 16-13 in overtime. The match brought together 78,610 spectators, according to data published by the league itself.
After that first experience, in February 2026 the NFL announced a multi-year agreement with the City Council of Madrid, the Community of Madrid, and Real Madrid to return to the stadium for several seasons. The commitment also includes initiatives to develop the sport throughout the year.
The bet is not limited to professional matches. The league promotes in Spain the NFL Flag program, a non-contact modality oriented to school and youth practice. This discipline will be part of the Olympic program at Los Angeles 2028.
The competition considers Spain a relevant market and estimates the number of fans it has in the country at 11 million. The holding of official matches in Madrid seeks to convert that interest into a stable presence, both in the stands and among new generations.