80,000 expected as Falcons and Bengals play Sunday at Santiago Bernabeu

The Atlanta Falcons and Cincinnati Bengals arrived in Madrid on Tuesday to prepare for their NFL regular-season matchup scheduled for Sunday at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium. This event marks the second professional American football game played in the Spanish capital, following last year's contest between the Miami Dolphins and Washington Commanders.

NFL country manager for Spain, Rafa de los Santos, confirmed that preparations are proceeding according to plan. He stated, "There's always fine tuning that needs to be done, but everything seems to be going on track," adding that the organization is satisfied with the stadium and city-level logistics ahead of the main event.

The Falcons began their practice sessions on Wednesday at the training center of Real Madrid, the Spanish soccer club that owns the venue. The Bengals commenced their drills on Thursday at the facilities of the Spanish national soccer team. This arrangement follows a similar split of facilities in the previous year's game, where the Commanders used the Real Madrid center and the Dolphins utilized the grounds of rival club Atletico Madrid.

Organizers anticipate a crowd of approximately 80,000 fans for the game. Tickets for the match remain available as of this week. Last year's game drew 78,610 spectators. The Bernabeu stadium is located in an upscale residential neighborhood, where noise regulations have required adjustments to events since 2024.

The halftime performance will feature Colombian musician Manuel Turizo. De los Santos noted that the show and the overall event will adhere to local Spanish laws regarding noise levels. He explained, "We adjust to the regulations. That's what we do."

The game includes a tribute to the 69 victims of a high-speed train collision that occurred last week. Organizers described the specific format of the remembrance as a surprise. The Madrid contest is the seventh of nine international games scheduled for the NFL this season. The remaining two international matchups will be held in Munich and Mexico City.

The NFL and Madrid have one additional year remaining on their current agreement for holding games in the Spanish capital. The field conditions at the Bernabeu are expected to be optimal, with De los Santos describing the turf as being in mint condition.