The amazing retractable pitch at 2025 NFL venue the Bernabéu, home of Real Madrid

A stadium in the final stages of a $1.25 billion revamp, Madrid’s Estadio Santiago Bernabéu is set to become the first Spanish arena to hold an NFL game, after it was announced as the venue for a regular-season fixture in 2025.

Spain joins growing cast of global NFL venues

Spain is to become the fifth country to host NFL International Series games. The UK, Germany and Mexico have all staged regular-season fixtures in recent seasons, while the league is set to head to Brazil from the 2024 campaign.

“Playing a game in Madrid in 2025 highlights the continued expansion of the league’s global footprint and the accelerated ambitions to take our game to more fans around the world,” NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said.

New Bernabéu boasts leading-edge tech

As part of a remodelling project that began in 2019, the Bernabéu - which is home to soccer giants Real Madrid - has been fitted with a futuristic-looking outer shell, a retractable roof, an almost-finished 360º video scoreboard, and a state-of-the-art grass pitch that folds away into an underground vault.

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REAL MADRID

In the video above, you can check out the cutting-edge retraction system that allows the Bernabéu grass to be removed, making it possible to install alternative sports surfaces and layouts for events such as NFL games and tennis tournaments.

The technology also means the Bernabéu can be turned into a venue for a host of non-sporting events, such as trade shows and concerts.