The Dolphins will play the Washington Commanders at Real Madrid’s Estadio Santiago Bernabéu in November.
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The arrival of NFL action to Spain has sparked a battle between two of its biggest soccer clubs as Real Madrid and Atlético Madrid fight it out to maximize the revenue-generating opportunities on offer.
Predictions from local authorities, quoted by Diario ABC, claim that the total economic impact of the game could be as much as €66 million ($77.5 million). The event is believed to be costing the authorities €1.5 million ($1.8 million) in sponsorship fees, but will bring in significant revenue in tourism, merchandising, hospitality and more.
It is those opportunities which provide potential revenue streams for local sports clubs who will see an influx of sports fans from across the globe. While there will be no fixtures in the domestic soccer league that weekend due to international action, clubs across Madrid will be in action off the field.
The arrival of NFL action to Spain is also seen as an opportunity by Spanish soccer clubs to take advantage and propel their awareness in the U.S. market. The territory has been a key target for both Real Madrid and Atlético Madrid in recent years, with both sides spending time in the country this summer during FIFA’s Club World Cup.
Dolphins to host base at Atlético Madrid’s Estadio Riyadh Air Metropolitano
The tension between the clubs is only set to rise as it has emerged that the Dolphins have chosen Atlético Madrid’s facilities at the Estadio Riyadh Air Metropolitano as their base for training, preparations and media work.
According to Spanish outlet Vozpopuli, an announcement is imminent, but has not been without its difficulties. The outlet claims that Real Madrid’s influential president Florentino Pérez has made a series of phone calls to try to persuade the Dolphins to instead use their facilities, ahead of their city rivals. Ultimately, Pérez’s efforts look to have failed.
Atlético came out on top in a meeting on the field with a 5-2 victory on Saturday and now look set to secure another victory off the field. The club’s long-standing work to build links with the Dolphins, including when Atlético Madrid legend Fernando Torres announced the Dolphins’ draft pick, appears to have paid off.
The two clubs continue to battle for revenue and awareness as the Spanish capital becomes one of Europe’s biggest sporting cities. Already hosting two of the continent’s most respected soccer stadiums, Formula One will also return to the city at the MADRING circuit from 2026.
When will the Miami Dolphins play in Madrid?
The NFL’s long-anticipated expansion into Spain will reach a milestone with the match-up between the Miami Dolphins and the Washington Commanders at the Estadio Santiago Bernabúe on November 16th, 2025.
This historic clash marks the league’s first-ever regular-season game in Spain, underscoring the NFL’s accelerating push to globalize its brand and capture new audiences across Europe.
The fixture reflects the NFL’s ambitious expansion plans beyond London and Frankfurt, where previous international games have enjoyed sellout success. Madrid, one of Europe’s major sporting capitals, will now become the first predominantly Spanish-speaking city to host one of the NFL fixtures in Europe.