The NFL announced the five teams that will host international games during the 2022 season. They include the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at FC Bayern Munich Stadium in Germany, Green Bay Packers at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, New Orleans Saints at the same venue, and Jacksonville Jaguars at Wembley Stadium in London.
Rounding out the five are the Arizona Cardinals at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City. One San Francisco 49ers insider believes Kyle Shanahan's squad could be tabbed as the road team in that matchup, labeling it as "more than a decent chance."
The NFL announces the Arizona Cardinals will host a 2022 regular-season game in Mexico. My guess is that there's more than a decent chance the #49ers are the opponent.
— Matt Maiocco (@MaioccoNBCS) February 28, 2022
The game would be the first in Mexico since 2019 when the Los Angeles Chargers hosted the Kansas City Chiefs at Estadio Azteca.
In December, the 49ers were granted international marketing rights in Mexico and the United Kingdom, seemingly increasing the team's chances to eventually take part in a game within one of those locations.
After the announcement, the 49ers head coach was asked about the possibility of playing in Mexico or even holding an offseason camp there.
"Oh, I'd be all for it," Shanahan responded. "I love Mexico. I love going there. And it does seem like they've got a bunch of die-hard Niner fans too, so we get a lot of love there when we go there, and I always enjoy it."
Added Shanahan: "I like Mexican people, I haven't been to Mexico City very much, but I'd always rather play here, but that's definitely a lot closer, and I'm more familiar with that than London. So I'm more down with Mexico City."
The complete NFL schedule is expected to be released sometime after the 2022 NFL Draft, with the international game matchups likely to be announced before then.