NFL-American Express named official payments partner of NFL

By Rory Carroll

LOS ANGELES, March 30 (Reuters) – American Express has signed a multi-year deal to become the National Football League’s official payments partner starting with the 2026 season, the company and the league said on Monday.

The agreement will give American Express cardholders access to ticket presales, on-site experiences and other perks at select NFL events in the U.S. and abroad, as the league continues to push its international growth strategy.

The financial services company said card members would receive benefits tied to major NFL events including the Super Bowl, the NFL Draft and league-owned international games. Those offerings will include presale ticket access, special promotions and branded activations at marquee events.

As part of the rollout, American Express cardholders will get early access beginning on Tuesday to tickets for the 2026 NFL game in Melbourne between the Los Angeles Rams and San Francisco 49ers, scheduled for September 10.

The partnership also comes as American Express expands its presence in sports marketing, an area it said is central to its brand strategy. The company said its sports portfolio now includes more than 50 leagues, teams, venues and major events globally.

AMEX REPLACES VISA

Terms of the deal were not disclosed. The news comes after American Express’ rival Visa last year announced it would end its three-decade NFL sponsorship run when its contract expired this month. 

American Express Chief Marketing Officer Elizabeth Rutledge said the NFL partnership was a “natural extension” of the company’s existing sports portfolio and would allow it to offer card members more exclusive access and benefits tied to football.

At this year’s NFL Draft in Pittsburgh, American Express said it would host an open-to-all fan activation, while eligible cardholders would receive priority access for some league-operated experiences, lounge reservations and certain retail offers on-site.

The company also said it plans to launch the NFL Extra Points American Express credit card later this year in the U.S., issued by Comenity Capital Bank, which will offer fans rewards tied to NFL purchases and experiences.

American Express already has team-specific deals with several NFL clubs, including the Atlanta Falcons, New York Giants, New York Jets and Miami Dolphins.

(Reporting by Rory Carroll; Editing by Chris Reese)