The Huddle Abroad
Advancing American leadership and global partnership through the international power of sport.
.png)
The Huddle Abroad: Madrid Edition
In November 2025, we convened the inaugural Huddle Abroad program in Madrid in advance of the NFL’s first International Game in the city. The program was delivered in close collaboration with Fundación Consejo España–EE.UU., Casa de América, the Community of Madrid, and the Madrid Bravos, and brought together senior NFL executives, members of the diplomatic community, and business leaders from both the United States and Spain.
The convening featured high-level discussions and curated networking focused on sports diplomacy and the economic opportunities created by the NFL’s international expansion—highlighting pathways for U.S. companies, entrepreneurs, and small businesses to engage, invest, and build lasting cross-border partnerships through sport.
Axel Caballero, CEO
Latino Film Institute
Participating in the NFL Huddle Abroad program in Madrid was an impactful and moving experience—one that offered a uniquely powerful lens through which to view the intersection of culture, sports entertainment, and diplomacy. The Huddle Abroad brought immense added value to our efforts by offering a direct connection to players, sports organizations, and the companies that help shape this sector. Throughout the program, we forged numerous significant connections—not
only within the delegation but also with companies like Avangrid, Iberdrola, NFL leaders, and the Madrid Bravos.
Programs like Huddle Abroad are essential for American leagues, like the NFL, as they work to establish lasting, meaningful relationships in new countries, particularly within the American Latino community.
Cici Rojas, President
Tico Sports
Participating in
The Huddle Abroad: Madrid Edition was an exceptional experience for Oscar and me as NFL Spanish broadcast rights holders. The program gave us meaningful
cultural insight and direct access to local leaders, enriching our understanding of how the NFL can authentically grow in Spain and across international Latino communities. MAVEN’s coordination, professionalism, and curation of every detail made the
experience truly best-in-class. We left with several strong connections in Spain’s sports and media ecosystem, relationships that will support future collaboration and deepen the narratives we bring back to the league.
Programs like Huddle Abroad are not just beneficial; they are necessary for U.S. leagues to build lasting presence and trust in new countries. It was an honor to participate.
Fernando Prieto,
Consul General
Fundacion Consejo Espan
Sports have become one of the most powerful tools for projecting Spain’s image abroad. The introduction of the NFL in Madrid, as well as the widespread popularity that Spanish football has achieved in the United States—particularly among Hispanic communities—are
clear examples of how sports can strengthen relations between the two countries. Promoting initiatives like this Huddle Abroad: Sports Diplomacy Forum is therefore
important for the Spain–U.S. Council Foundation, as it allows us to reinforce the historic ties between our countries, generate new opportunities for collaboration, and showcase how Spain can contribute leadership, creativity, and innovation within the sports sector as
well.
The Huddle Abroad:
Dominican Republic
March 19th-21st,2026
The Huddle Abroad: Dominican Republic Edition is a three-day sports diplomacy program that leverages the global growth of flag football—and its inclusion in the LA 2028 Olympic Games—to drive participation, strengthen local ecosystems, and demonstrate how the sport can serve as a powerful vehicle for economic mobility on the island.
The program convenes investors, businesses, government leaders, youth development stakeholders, and NFL players and executives to explore opportunities across workforce development, entrepreneurship, and community investment, while positioning flag football as a strategic tool for diplomacy—deepening bilateral relations between the United States and the Dominican Republic through sport.
.png)
.png)
The Huddle Abroad:
Mexico City TBD
This initiative will harness the World Cup’s global platform and Mexico’s central role in international sport to advance a shared U.S.–Mexico vision—one that strengthens diplomatic ties, expands cross-border business opportunities, and positions sport as a cornerstone of economic growth, cultural exchange, and regional leadership across North America. Through curated exchanges, high-level dialogues, and targeted networking, The Huddle Abroad creates pathways for American and Mexican companies, entrepreneurs, and institutions to collaborate—positioning sport as a catalyst for deeper economic integration and long-term partnership between the United States and Mexico.
.png)
The Huddle Abroad:
Rio De Janeiro
TBD
Ahead of the NFL's first game in Rio de Janeiro, we will leverage the power of sports to connect leaders across business, policy, community, and sports with an interest in growth opportunities in Latin America.
.png)
The Huddle Abroad:
Melbourne
TBD
Ahead of the first NFL. Game in Melbourne, we will leverage the power of sports diplomacy to strengthen connections between Melbourne and the US business community.
Interested in being part of global sports diplomacy?
Contact press@mavenstrategy group for all inquiries.