The Minnesota Vikings have been selected as one of the four designated teams to participate in international games in 2024, according to an announcement made by the NFL on Thursday. This will mark the Vikings' fourth appearance in London and the first time since 2013 that they will sacrifice a home game to do so.

The Vikings previously played at London's Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in 2022 as the road team, where they emerged victorious with a 28-25 win against the New Orleans Saints. In 2024, they will have the opportunity to play as the home team.

Vikings owner and president, Mark Wilf, expressed his gratitude for the team's selection, stating, "We are honored to once again represent the NFL in the continued effort to make the game of football more accessible globally." Wilf highlighted the international support the Vikings have received in their previous three London games and their successful bid to enter the United Kingdom as a global market. He emphasized the team's focus on securing their fourth consecutive win in London and creating a memorable experience for fans and partners, closely replicating the electric gameday atmosphere enjoyed in Minnesota.

Notably, the Vikings are the first team to achieve victories at all three London venues - Wembley Stadium, Twickenham Stadium, and Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. This track record makes their return to the U.K. in 2024 a logical choice. The Vikings hold home marketing rights in the United Kingdom, alongside five other NFL teams.

Within the framework of the 2024 season, NFC teams have nine regular-season home games. Out of the four teams selected for international games, three belong to the NFC. Alongside the Vikings, the Chicago Bears will also play at Tottenham, while the Carolina Panthers are scheduled to play in Munich. The Jacksonville Jaguars, known for their extensive history of playing in London, will continue the tradition by hosting a game at Wembley Stadium next year.

The Vikings' agreement with the Minnesota Sports Facilities Authority allows them to move three home games to international locations within the first 15 years of U.S. Bank Stadium's existence. Their victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2013 at Wembley Stadium, originally intended to be played at the Metrodome, counts as one of the three authorized games. Therefore, the upcoming 2024 game in London will be the second of these three allowed under the agreement.

The Vikings' remaining home games for the 2024 season include matchups against the Detroit Lions, Green Bay Packers, Arizona Cardinals, San Francisco 49ers, Atlanta Falcons, Houston Texans, New York Jets, and Indianapolis Colts. One of these teams will be the Vikings' opponent when they take the field in London.

With the Vikings' rich history and international appeal, their return to London in 2024 promises to be an exciting matchup that fans on both sides of the pond eagerly anticipate.