The Kansas City Chiefs’ international roots date back to 1990, when they participated in the American Bowl — a series of preseason games played abroad to grow the sport’s global appeal. They were also featured in these matchups in 1994, 1996 and 1998.
In the present day, the league is deeply committed to international expansion, holding regular-season games in other countries since 2007. The Chiefs’ first such appearance came in 2015 — when Alex Smith led Kansas City to a 45-10 victory over the Detroit Lions in London, England. They have since played in Mexico in 2019 and Germany in 2023.