The Steel City's beloved Pittsburgh Steelers are set to make some noise across the pond as they prepare to face off against the Minnesota Vikings in Dublin, Ireland, on September 28. This game marks a historic first, as it's the inaugural NFL regular-season contest ever to grace the Emerald Isle. The old sod will lay down the welcome mat for American football's foray into Irish sports culture, with the clash set to erupt at Dublin's Croke Park — Ireland's largest sporting coliseum, WPXI reported.
The timing couldn't be more apt for a little transatlantic touchdown of this magnitude, with the match slated to start bright and early at 9:30 a.m. This international gridiron battle isn't just a regular-season novelty; it's a nostalgic nod to the Steelers' previous London clash against these Vikings back in 2013—a heartbreaker where they came up short, 34-27. Now, steel yourself for some football on the banks of the River Liffey as these two teams go helmet to helmet in a high-stakes rematch, according to a CBS News Pittsburgh article.
The Pittsburgh organization has deep links with Ireland, adding sentiment layers to the upcoming game. Beyond an exhibition game memory from 1997, the late Steelers president, Dan Rooney, also served as the U.S. Ambassador to Ireland during the Obama era—an ode to the Rooney clan's Irish roots. The bonds they've forged with the land of saints and scholars have even sparked a dedicated Steelers in Ireland webpage, a testament to their affection for the country.
