Chiefs And Rams To Play In Mexico City
The Chiefs and Rams will meet for Monday Night Football on November 19 in Mexico City
The Kansas City Chiefs and Los Angeles Rams will play in Mexico City next season, it was confirmed on Wednesday.
The 2018 NFL schedule has not been officially released but the Chiefs announced the November 19 clash, roughly three months after commissioner Roger Goodell said the two teams would play in Mexico during his State of the NFL press conference ahead of Super Bowl LII.
"Over the past two seasons, we have seen the extraordinary passion that exists for NFL football in Mexico," Goodell said in January. "We are excited for another memorable event at Estadio Azteca as the Los Angeles Rams and Kansas City Chiefs head to Mexico City in 2018."
In addition to November's game, the NFL will hold one regular-season game in Mexico annually from 2019 to 2021.
"We are thrilled to be a part of the NFL's international initiatives once again, and we are excited to face the Rams at historic Estadio Azteca this fall," Chiefs chairman and CEO Clark Hunt said in January's statement. "The support for the NFL in Mexico has grown significantly since our initial trip in 1996. We look forward to returning to Mexico and connecting with a new generation of fans this season."
The game will be a home contest for the Rams, who will play the rest of their home schedule at the Los Angeles Coliseum until their new stadium is ready to open in 2020.
It will also be the first time Pro Bowl cornerback Marcus Peters will face his old team since being traded to the Rams this offseason.
"Southern California and Mexico share strong historic and cultural ties and this game will provide an opportunity to celebrate the special connection between these two regions," Rams owner Stan Kroenke said.
"It is great to be participating in the NFL’s international games again and working with the league to grow the game abroad. Mexico has one of the largest NFL fan bases in the world and we are excited to bring Rams football to the millions of fans there."