2030 NFL Expansion (Peanut's World)

In 2030, the National Football League expands from 32 to 40 teams. Four of the teams are international, while the other four are US-based, including the first-ever fan-run major league pro team in American sports.

2025-2028: Expansion Begins
In 2025, the NFL votes on expansion with Peyton Manning as the new NFL Commissioner. The NFL and the NFLPA, along with the owners, approve expansion into forty teams which would start play in 2030. Manchester United owner Avram Glazer is awarded the NFL's first expansion franchise overseas in London, England. The second city to be awarded an expansion team is Dublin, Ireland, to be owned by famed UFC fighter Conor McGregor. The third city is Berlin, Germany, to be owned by former F1 driver Michael Schumacher. The fourth city is Barcelona, Spain, to be owned by soccer legend Lionel Messi. The fifth city is San Diego, California, to be owned by former Chargers QB Phillip Rivers. The sixth city is Portland, Oregon, to be owned by NBA player Damian Lillard. The seventh city is Columbus, Ohio, to be co-owned by former Ohio State players and Pro Football Hall of Famers Eddie George and Cris Carter. The final city is the Richmond-Hampton Roads market in Virginia, which is owned by Fan Controlled Football and the fans, which has become the first fan-run major league franchise in American pro sports. Fans voted on the city of the new franchise, and Richmond-Hampton Roads beat out Salt Lake City 51% to 49%. Fan Controlled Football in 2024, became the NFL's official developmental league not just for new technology but for new NFL players as well.

The new names of the expansion franchises are, the London Monarchs, the Dublin Shamrocks, the Berlin Barbarians, La Furia Roja de Barcelona ("The Red Fury from Barcelona,") the San Diego Software (a play on its location in Silicon Valley), the Portland Lumberjacks, the Columbus Explorers, and the Virginia Squires (an homage to the old ABA pro basketball team of the same name).

The Monarchs announced that they would play in Wembley Stadium, the Shamrocks announced that they would play in Aviva Stadium, the Barbarians announced that they would play in Olympiastadion Berlin, La Furia Roja announced that they would play in Camp Nou, the Software announced that they would play in Aztec Stadium, the Lumberjacks announced that they would play in Providence Park, the Explorers announced that they would play in Ohio Stadium, and the Squires announced that they would play in Richmond at the Dominion Energy Stadium, in Norfolk at the Capital One Coliseum, and in Virginia Beach at the Verizon 5G Dome.