The NFL’s world tour covers five countries and seven weeks this year — two are in the books after September’s passport stampers in Brazil and Ireland. Up next is a Week 5 export in London, where the Minnesota Vikings and Cleveland Browns tangle at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Here’s what U.S. viewers need to know ahead of Sunday’s early kickoff.

How to watch Vikings vs. Browns
Venue: Tottenham Hotspur Stadium — London
Time: 9:30 a.m. ET, Sunday
TV (national): NFL Network

Vikings, in market: Fox channel 9 (KMSP)
Browns, in market: ABC channel 5 (WEWS)

Streaming: Fubo (Stream Free Now)
Watching in person? Get tickets on StubHub.

NFL Network also streams on NFL+.

The Vikings are playing in their second straight international game

This team was in Dublin last weekend, and it dropped a close, physical game to the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Vikings are the first NFL team to play back-to-back international games in different countries. So why’d they agree to this challenge? Well, in taking on the consecutive overseas draws, Minnesota was hoping to lessen road hostilities, trading two away games for two in neutral locations. It also saw this as a chance to grows its brand in major markets.

But that’s all a wash if the Vikings head back home at 0-2, and losing both of those games shorthanded would be a unique frustration for Kevin O’Connell’s crew.

Minnesota used 11 different combinations on the offensive line through its first four games, per Tru Media. For comparison, it went with 10 combinations all of 2024. Sheesh. As a result, the Vikings lead the NFL in sacks allowed (18). It’s their highest mark through four weeks in two full decades. All this is a letdown, and the bad vibes probably won’t let up any time soon. Right tackle Brian O’Neill went down with an MCL tear last Sunday. He joins left guard Donovan Jackson (wrist) and center Ryan Kelly (concussion) on the sideline for Week 5.

Minnesota is still 2-2 after the Week 4 stumble, though, and there’s plenty to appreciate about these Vikes. They’re ninth in points allowed and tied for 10th in points scored. The offense has dynamic skill position players in All-Pro wideout Justin Jefferson, forceful rusher Jordan Mason and 6-foot-5 tight end T.J. Hockenson. The defense has a frenetic blitz scheme coordinated by Brian Flores. The fans travel well and bellow out “skol!”

First-time starter J.J. McCarthy showed resolve in Week 1, looked lost in Week 2, then was put on ice with an ankle injury. His replacement, starter-turned-journeyman Carson Wentz, put up 350 yards in Dublin but also threw two picks and struggled on third downs. No matter who’s throwing the ball, Minnesota’s revolving door O-line hasn’t been able to keep a clean pocket.

Vikings’ all-time record in London: 4-0 (4-1 in international games)

The Browns are switching QBs again as Dillon Gabriel makes history

Cleveland has been seeking a stable presence under center for the entirety of the 21st century. On Sunday, third-round pick Dillon Gabriel will become the franchise’s 41st (!) starting quarterback since 1999, a futility that inspires creative jersey alteration every year. He’ll be the first rookie quarterback to make his starting debut in an international game.

Kevin Stefanski and Cleveland are off to a 1-3 opening, largely unsurprising given their 3-14 record last season and recent deployment of 40-year-old Joe Flacco. Gabriel is now tasked with turning it all around. Across games at UCF, Oklahoma and Oregon, Gabriel amassed more than 18,000 passing yards (second in FBS history to Case Keenum).

The Browns are 31st in points per game and 30th in Pro Football Reference’s simple rating system. At least the defense has held opponents to a league-best 222.5 yards per game (first against the run, fourth against the pass). Jim Schwartz’s unit got exhausted by top offenses Baltimore and Detroit, but it held its own in upsetting Green Bay and looked solid against Cincinnati (back when Joe Burrow was healthy). Unparalleled pass rusher Myles Garrett was listed as a limited participant Thursday but is set to play Sunday. Garrett has at least one tackle for loss in 11 consecutive games. Up next: the Vikings’ patchwork blocking.

Browns’ all-time record in London: 0-1

The broadcast situation

All of the NFL’s European games are shown live on NFL Network for U.S. audiences. There’s a local over-the-air simulcast in the teams’ respective regions, meaning this Sunday’s matchup has in-market listings for Cleveland and Minneapolis-St. Paul. The significant time zone shift calls for espresso and orange juice at kickoff.

Kenny Albert is on play-by-play, and his broadcast partner Jonathan Vilma takes color commentary. This team is usually on Fox, but it got licensed out for the London special. Albert has the vocal quality of an old-time radio broadcaster, with the cadence and staccato of his father, Marv. NFL Network’s Sara Walsh reports from the sideline.

Gridiron football’s history in London

The NFL has been traveling to the U.K. for regular-season games since 2007, but the London Monarchs predated that engagement back in 1991. They were a part of NFL Europe, the developmental league probably best remembered stateside for its minuscule Madden ratings.

London’s first NFL showcase was won by Eli Manning’s New York Giants, who outlasted the Miami Dolphins 13-10. That game was televised throughout the U.K., but it was actually slotted as a regional Fox game in America. It was also aired at 1 p.m. ET for American viewers, compared to the current 9:30 a.m. shift. From 2007 through 2015, all London games were held at Wembley Stadium. Twickenham became the second stadium used in 2016, and Tottenham was added to the venue rotation in ’19.

The home of Premier League’s Spurs hosts two London looks each season and is also the site of Week 6’s game between the Denver Broncos and New York Jets. The stadium seats nearly 63,000 people. The Vikings won here last fall, beating longtime rival Aaron Rodgers and his star-crossed Jets.

The Vikings are popular in London given their previous four appearances (all wins, crowds like winners). They have a local fan club that seems active. But the city’s unofficial squad is still the Jacksonville Jaguars, who are set to play their 14th game in London later in October.

What are the players doing over there?

Hopefully, the Vikings feel settled in after their unusual schedule. “It’s basically like we’re on tour,” Mike Parson, the team’ director of equipment services, told The Athletic’s Alec Lewis.

Lewis also asked players about their travel routines. Dallas Turner brought a PlayStation 5 with him, and he claims to be beating everyone in games of their choice. Dwight McGlothern is wandering the city, and Levi Drake Rodriguez compared his (mis)adventures to the penguin from “Surf’s Up.” The team as a whole checked out the London Eye, and they’ve been practicing by the English countryside.

For their part, the Browns photoshopped a team flag on Big Ben. Brownie the Elf and Chomps the Dawg made the flight and are now riding a double-decker bus. The players are eating piccalilli and learning that “fries” are called “chips” this weekend.

Who is expected to win on Sunday?

Oddsmakers see a low-scoring grinder, with a point total of just 35.5 on BetMGM. Despite their recent wave of injuries, the Vikings have a better record, a better roster and a (much) more experienced QB. They’re one-possession favorites at a neutral site.

2025 NFL International Games

All upcoming games start at 9:30 a.m. ET.

Week 1 (Friday, Sept. 5): Los Angeles Chargers 27, Kansas City Chiefs 21
Corinthians Arena in São Paulo, Brazil

Week 4 (Sunday, Sept. 28): Pittsburgh Steelers 24, Minnesota Vikings 21
Croke Park in Dublin, Ireland

Week 5 (Sunday, Oct. 5): Minnesota Vikings vs. Cleveland Browns
Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, England 

Week 6 (Sunday, Oct. 12): Denver Broncos vs. New York Jets
Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, England

Week 7 (Sunday, Oct. 19): Los Angeles Rams vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
Wembley Stadium in London, England

Week 10 (Sunday, Nov. 9): Atlanta Falcons vs. Indianapolis Colts
Olympic Stadium in Berlin, Germany

Week 11 (Sunday, Nov. 16): Washington Commanders vs. Miami Dolphins
Santiago Bernabéu Stadium in Madrid, Spain

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(Photo of Justin Jefferson: Kirby Lee / Imagn Images)