NFL teams split training grounds in Madrid ahead of Sunday matchup
Falcons and Bengals use rival soccer clubs' facilities to prepare for the second regular-season game in Spain, with 80,000 tickets expected.
By Vikram Harrison ·
The Atlanta Falcons and Cincinnati Bengals are preparing for Sunday's NFL game at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium using the training facilities of two rival Spanish soccer clubs. The Falcons began their week at Real Madrid's center on Wednesday, while the Bengals will practice at the home of the Spanish national team on Thursday. Both teams arrived in Madrid on Tuesday for the contest, which marks the second regular-season NFL game held in the country.
Falcons head coach Kevin Stefanski described the setup as a major logistical effort. "This is a beautiful facility for us to get some work done this week," Stefanski said. "This is a huge undertaking to take your football team across the pond. And I'm just very appreciative and grateful to the NFL, to our organization. Amazing the amount of work that goes into this." He noted that his role is to arrive and play, while his staff handles the complex details of the trip.
Rafa de los Santos, the NFL country manager for Spain, confirmed that preparations are on track. "There's always fine tuning that needs to be done, but everything seems to be going on track," de los Santos said. He expressed satisfaction with the stadium, city, and event logistics leading up to the game. Organizers expect the field to be in perfect condition, citing Real Madrid's strict maintenance standards as the top priority for the club.
The matchup follows the inaugural game in Madrid last year, where the Miami Dolphins defeated the Washington Commanders 16-13 in overtime. That previous contest drew a crowd of 78,610. For this week's event, organizers anticipate approximately 80,000 fans will attend. Tickets remained available as of Wednesday, despite the high profile of the fixture.
The game will include a tribute to the victims of the high-speed train collision that occurred last week, killing 69 people and injuring dozens. Organizers stated that the specific details of the memorial will be a surprise. The event is part of the NFL's record nine-game international schedule this season, which also includes games in Munich and Mexico City. This is the seventh of those games to take place outside the United States.
The choice of training sites reflects a swap from last year's arrangement. Previously, the Commanders used Real Madrid's facilities while the Dolphins practiced at Atletico Madrid. This season, the Bengals selected the Spanish federation's grounds, a venue where the national team played two matches in Atlanta during the World Cup earlier this year. De los Santos noted that both soccer clubs are accustomed to hosting elite athletes, making them suitable hosts for the NFL teams.
The halftime show will feature Colombian artist Manuel Turizo. The performance must comply with local noise regulations in the Bernabeu's upscale residential neighborhood. Concerts at the stadium have been suspended since 2024 following complaints from neighbors about excessive sound levels. De los Santos confirmed that the event will adhere to Spanish law and local rules. The agreement between Madrid and the NFL for games in the Spanish capital has one year remaining.
