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Coronavirus: NFL scraps international games for 2020 season

By Bob D'Angelo, Cox Media Group National Content Desk

NFL scraps international games for 202 Wembley Stadium has hosted an NFL game for 13 consecutive seasons, including last year's game between the Houston Texans and the Jacksonville Jaguars. (Martin Leitch/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

By Bob D'Angelo, Cox Media Group National Content Desk

The National Football League, voicing concerns over the coronavirus, announced Monday it will not play any games outside the United States in 2020.

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In a statement, the NFL announced that all five international games -- four in London and one in Mexico City -- will be played inside the U.S.

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“After considerable analysis, we believe the decision to play all our games domestically this season is the right one for our players, our clubs, and all our fans in the U.S., Mexico and UK,” NFL executive vice president Christopher Halpin said in a statement. "We greatly appreciate the support of our governmental and stadium partners in Mexico and the United Kingdom, who all agree with this decision, and we look forward to returning for games in both countries in the 2021 season.

"We also thank our incredible fans in those territories for their passionate support of the NFL. We will continue to serve them through our outstanding media partners and by being active supporters of both grassroots football and COVID-19 relief efforts in Mexico and the UK."

Commissioner Roger Goodell said the decision was made after discussions with "our clubs, national and local governments, the NFL Players Association, medical authorities and international stadium partners,” ESPN reported.

The league was going to stage two games at London’s Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and two more at Wembley Stadium, according to NFL.com. Mexico City’s Aztec Stadium was to host the other game.

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The NFL has hosted a game at Wembley Stadium for 13 consecutive seasons, the website reported.

The Arizona Cardinals, Atlanta Falcons, Jacksonville Jaguars and Miami Dolphins had announced they would be the home teams for the international games, NFL.com reported. The Jaguars were going to be the first team to play back-to-back games overseas, playing both games at Wembley Stadium, ESPN reported.

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The Falcons and Dolphins were scheduled to host games at Tottenham, while the Cardinals were going to be the home team in Mexico City.

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Those teams will now host those games at their home stadiums, the NFL said.

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