Fútbol is an approximation of the English word "football" in Spanish phonology; a more literal translation of "foot ball" is balompié,[3] a calque term that is not used in Spanish-speaking countries other than for stylistic purposes in media.

[5] Several years later in his annual news conference prior to Super Bowl XXXIX in February 2005, NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue announced that the league was considering holding regular season games outside the United States, with Toronto and Mexico City as the primary candidates.

[6] In March, the league announced that the first NFL regular season game outside the United States was to be played on October 2, with the Cardinals facing the 49ers in Mexico City.

In the second quarter, the Arizona Cardinals scored two field goals and a 17-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald with an unsuccessful two-point conversion to still trail 14–12 at halftime.

ET and was broadcast nationally on Fox; and an International Series game between the Houston Texans and Oakland Raiders in 2016 held at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City and televised by ESPN.