A first step towards the expansion of the NFL internationally.
This September 13, the NFL released a press release regarding training teams (practice squad in English), and especially for international players.
The league wants to create more opportunities for talented athletes around the world. As well as developing American football internationally.
From next season (2024), training squads will expand to 17 players for all teams, with a new rule. Each team must have an international player. This player must have his primary residence outside the United States or Canada. Also, he must have spent a maximum of 2 years in an American high school. Obviously, this player must also have been a Draft eligible player.
Since 2017, the divisions selected by the league were authorized to welcome an international player via the program called NFL’s International Player Pathway (IPP). Until 2022, there was one club from one division participating each year. This season, 2 divisions (AFC South and NFC North) are participating in this initiative, with 8 players spread across various clubs. This is particularly the case of Junior Aho, today on the training team of the Minnesota Vikings (NFC North).
