NFL Vikings and Steelers Are Ready To Take Dublin by Storm

by Roy Brindley, 23 September 2025

The NFL makes its first visit to Dublin this weekend. With a three-day festival, the city will greet Pittsburgh Steelers and Minnesota Vikings fans with open arms.

Byron Murphy, cornerback for the Minnesota Vikings, will be saying his prayers in Dublin this weekend. ©Getty Images

Key Facts:

• Dublin braces itself for a US invasion as the NFL arrives in town.
• The three-day Dublin NFL American football festival begins on Thursday.
• Six teams remain unbeaten in the race to the Super Bowl.
• Indianapolis have been the surprise package; they meet the Los Angeles Rams next.

Dublin is bracing itself for one of its biggest weekends of sport. An estimated 35,000 Americans are predicted to descend on the Irish capital for its first-ever NFL match – a regular-season clash between the Pittsburgh Steelers and Minnesota Vikings.

The host venue is Croke Park, the largest stadium in Ireland and the third largest in Europe, primarily used for Gaelic football and hurling. The stadium will welcome over 75,000 American football fans ahead of Sunday afternoon’s game.

The UK’s online betting sites make the Vikings – a side that garnered a 14 wins and three losses record last season (losing to the LA Rams in the Wild Card round) – the 4/6 game favourites.

Pittsburgh, winners twice away from home but beaten against Seattle in week two of the 2025 campaign, can be backed on 9/10 odds in the handicap, where the six-time Super Bowl winners receive a 2.5-point start.

Castles, Pubs and Parties Celebrate NFL Dublin

The much-anticipated Sky televised Dublin game is complemented by a three-day festival of NFL football events across the city. An NFL Experience, taking place in the surroundings of Dublin Castle, is one of the highlights.

Fans can also visit the NFL’s Super Bowl Gallery in Dublin City Hall. It will showcase all 59 Super Bowl rings alongside the iconic Vince Lombardi Trophy. There are two official team pubs and a fan tailgate party in Merrion Square.

The wait is over, Dublin! The NFL is finally here! 🏈

The Pittsburgh Steelers face off against the Minnesota Vikings at Croke Park this Sunday, 28th September 👏

Catch all the action Live on on Virgin Media Play & Virgin Media One 🖥️#NFLDublin | #VMSport | @NFLUKIRE pic.twitter.com/D2G14TVWy4

— Virgin Media Sport (@VMSportIE) September 22, 2025

Six Unbeaten in Race to the Bowl

In the outright 2026 Super Bowl betting, the Minnesota Vikings, quoted at 50/1 odds, are marginally preferred. The team has never won the sport’s biggest prize and last reached the final in 1977. The Steelers, despite their excellent record, are 80/1.

Six teams remain unbeaten after week three of the NFL season. The Super Bowl favourites, the Buffalo Bills, head the cast. The Philadelphia Eagles, San Francisco 49ers, Indianapolis Colts, Los Angeles Chargers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers are others that have yet to taste defeat.

The first meeting between two undefeated teams is scheduled for Sunday, when the Philadelphia Eagles will face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Florida. The visiting Super Bowl LIX winners are 3.5 points favourites for the showdown.

So far, Indianapolis, 150/1 for Super Bowl glory pre-season, are the NFL’s biggest surprise package. The 2007 winners have beaten the Dolphins, Broncos and Titans. They will next meet the Los Angeles Rams, a game where they are the 3.5-point underdogs.

According to the bookmakers, this weekend’s most significant mismatch is the Buffalo Bills versus the New Orleans Saints. The Saints, nought-from-three with a 13-20 loss to the Cardinals, 21-26 defeat by the 49ers and 13-44 pummelling by the Seahawks, are 16.5 point underdogs.