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Timeline of International Games

The AFL's New York Yankees and Los Angeles Wildcats faced off at Toronto's Maple Leaf Stadium in the first pro football game played outside of the United States. (Photo: NFL)

The first NFL game is played internationally. The New York Giants defeated the Canadian Football League's Ottawa Rough Riders in a preseason contest, 27-6, at Ottawa's Lansdowne Park. It was the first of seven exhibition games between NFL/AFL and CFL teams between 1950-61. (AP/Harry Harris)

The first NFL game is played outside of North America in Tokyo. The St. Louis Cardinals defeated the San Diego Chargers in a preseason matchup, 20-10. (Photo: NFL)

The first NFL game is played in Europe at London's Wembley Stadium. The Minnesota Vikings defeated the St. Louis Cardinals, 28-10, in the preseason. (AP/Bob Dear)

The American Bowl series kicks off at Wembley Stadium in London. The Chicago Bears defeated the Dallas Cowboys, 17-6. The American Bowl ran from 1986 to 2005, with 40 preseason games in the U.K., Ireland, Spain, Germany, Canada, Japan, Mexico and Australia. (AP/Ron Heflin)

Sweden hosts the Volvo American Football Classic preseason game at Gothenburg's Ullevi Stadium, where the Minnesota Vikings defeated the Chicago Bears, 28-21. Not a part of the American Bowl series, it is the only NFL game to be played in Sweden. (Photo: Minnesota Vikings)

Estadio Azteca in Mexico City hosts its first NFL preseason game. The Houston Oilers beat the Dallas Cowboys, 6-0, in a game that still holds the record for most fans (112,376) at any NFL preseason or regular season game. (AP/Ron Heflin)

NFL Fútbol Americano marks the first regular season NFL game to be played on foreign soil. In front of a crowd of 103,467 at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, the Arizona Cardinals defeated the San Francisco 49ers, 31-14. (AP/Eduardo Verdugo)

The NFL International Series kicks off at Wembley Stadium. The New York Giants defeated the Miami Dolphins in a regular season matchup, 13-10. (AP/Kirsty Wigglesworth)



