With more than six billion people living outside the United States, it was only a matter of time before the NFL decided to go global. I could tell you that they just want to share the love of the game with the world, but that would be a lie. For the NFL, it is all about dollars (or pounds, marks and pesos in this case). That doesn’t mean I don’t welcome global expansion. I, for one, am sick of referring to real football as American football whenever I talk to someone outside the United States. Fortunately, I don’t think my kids will have that problem. In 20 years, American football will rule the world and soccer will have gone the way of the Dodo. Okay, so it probably won’t play out quite like that, but most people would agree that football has an appeal unmatched by any other sport. Look at the 49ers vs. Cardinals game played in 2005. Azteca Stadium in Mexico City was filled to near-capacity. That means a little more than 100,000 people paid to watch two horrible NFL teams. Think about how much you paid for a ticket last time you went to a game. Now calculate the conversion rate. That’s right that is a lot of pesos! If the NFL wants to get rich, here are some other places that are sure to sell out the local stadium and buy lots of crappy merchandise.

Baghdad, Iraq – Sure the facilities will be shoddy, but nothing ends sectarian violence like a good football game. Get a good rivalry game, like Eagles vs. Cowboys, to show the Sunni and Shai what a real rivalry is like.

Reykjavík, Iceland – Little known fact, Icelanders love the NFL. Then again, Icelanders love anything that gets their minds off the fact that they live in Iceland.

Tehran, Iran – It is a pretty well-known fact that Iran hates America and vise versa. Let’s go a long way towards making piece by offering them a chance to host an NFL game. One benefit, the Azadi (the local stadium in Tehran) holds well over 100,000 people, all men! Can you imagine if Lincoln Financial Field didn’t allow women?! Just think of all the fights! That alone would be worth the price of admission.

Paris, France – I don’t like the French. The NFL in France might make me change my stance. Plus, Paris is 11 million strong and you know they don’t have anything better to do. Just serve wine instead of beer at the stadium and you have yourself a winner.

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil – Actually, sending NFL players here might be a bad idea. They get in enough trouble as is. Sending them to a lawless, vice-ridden city is probably not a going to work out. Then again, this might be just the place for the Bengals to relocate too.

The possibilities are endless! Soon we’ll be experience fan riots the likes of which we’ve never seen. All the while, the NFL will be smiling as it collects the check!