Can American Football Become Popular in Greece?

If you ask that question to Los Angeles Chargers’ Controlling Owner & Chairman of the Board Dean Spanos, the answer is an emphatic yes.

The Chargers recently announced they were officially joining the NFL’s Global Markets Program which aims to take American football to international markets. Specifically, Spanos announced, his team was officially joining the league initiative as an international marketing rights holder for Greece.

First launched in 2022, the NFL’s Global Markets Program awards clubs international marketing rights to build brand awareness and fandom beyond the U.S., through fan engagement, events, commercial opportunities and NFL Flag development.

“The homeland of my family, Greece has left an eternal imprint on my heart,” said Controlling Owner & Chairman of the Board Dean Spanos. “So when the opportunity to grow NFL Football and the Los Angeles Chargers’ brand in Greece presented itself, we simply couldn’t pass it up.

“With Ancient Greece home to the first recorded Olympic Games in 776 BC and host of the inaugural Summer Olympics in 1896, it seems only natural to bring what I consider to be the best game in the world to, quite literally, the birthplace of sport. We couldn’t be more excited to connect with Greeks from all walks of life, make an impact on their communities and share our passion for the game we love.”

With a focus on grass roots initiatives including youth camps and clinics, the creation of NFL Flag leagues, community enhancement projects and game-day activations, the Chargers will officially kick off their efforts in Greece with a 2025 NFL Draft Day 3 Pick announcement live from Athens.

In this video, Spanos discusses the potential of the NFL in Greece.

The Chargers posted the announcement on their social media channels with an image of football players and Greek temples and statues.