Alex Anzalone Views Munich Game With Envy After Long Absence From International NFL Play
Tampa Bay Buccaneers player Alex Anzalone has played in the NFL since 2017, but he has experienced only one regular-season game outside the United States during his entire career. SPORT1 reported that the 32-year-old veteran watched the announcement of the upcoming NFL matchup in Germany with a distinct sense of envy. The Detroit Lions and the New England Patriots are scheduled to meet in Munich on November 15, competing for a victory inside the Allianz Arena during the league’s third regular-season trip to the stadium of FC Bayern München.
Anzalone’s lone international appearance occurred during his rookie season in London. When asked during a digital media session whether he hopes to play on German soil before his career ends, the player told SPORT1: Ganz sicher! Ich habe damals in meinem Rookie-Jahr das London Game gespielt und seitdem hatte ich kein internationales Spiel mehr. Das ist, um ehrlich zu sein, echt ein bisschen komisch,
noting that going this long without another overseas trip feels rather strange. The league previously staged a game between the Seattle Seahawks and the Buccaneers at the Allianz Arena in 2022, when Anzalone was still under contract with the Detroit Lions. The New York Giants and the Carolina Panthers played there in 2024.
Praise for German Football Culture and Fan Understanding
While Anzalone must wait for his own opportunity to return to international competition—with the next Munich fixture formally scheduled for 2028 and Berlin’s Olympiastadion set to host a game in 2027—he has closely observed the growth of the sport abroad. The International Series has expanded across Munich, Frankfurt, and Berlin, fostering a dedicated overseas audience. Ich weiß, dass es dort eine starke NFL-Fanbase gibt. Es wächst immer weiter,
Anzalone remarked to SPORT1. Es herrscht ein großes Verständnis für das Spiel vor, sie verstehen Football tatsächlich. Es ist echt cool, dieses Wachstum zu sehen.
The acknowledgment comes at a high point in Anzalone’s current campaign with Tampa Bay. He earned NFL Defensive Player of the Week honors following a torrential downpour against the Atlanta Falcons where he secured two interceptions. Neither team completed a forward pass during the weather-heavy contest, which the Buccaneers eventually secured by a 16-0 margin through rushing plays and field goals. Weder als Kind, noch im College oder der NFL habe ich so ein Spiel erlebt. So wenige Pässe, so viel Regen,
Anzalone said of the conditions.
Next Scheduled International Fixtures
The NFL International Series continues to map out its multi-year rotation across European venues. Following the November clash between the Lions and the Patriots in Munich, the league will head to the Olympiastadion in Berlin in 2027, with specific team pairings yet to be announced. Munich will host its next regular-season game in 2028.
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