American Express will step into the National Football League's payments role under a new multi-year partnership that begins with the 2026 season, the companies announced. The agreement grants American Express cardholders a range of privileges tied to NFL events, part of the league's broader push to expand its international reach.
Under the arrangement, card members will gain priority access to ticket presales, special promotional offers and branded activations at select NFL games and events both in the United States and abroad. The benefits are tied to high-profile league assets including the Super Bowl, the NFL Draft and games owned by the league in international markets.
As the partnership is rolled out, American Express cardholders will receive early access to tickets for the 2026 NFL game scheduled in Melbourne between the Los Angeles Rams and the San Francisco 49ers on September 10. Early ticket access for that event begins on Tuesday for eligible card members.
The company said the offerings will include presale ticket access, special promotions and on-site experiences at marquee events. It emphasized the international dimension of the agreement as the NFL increases the number of league-operated games outside the United States.
Terms of the arrangement were not disclosed. The new deal follows the end of Visa's long-standing sponsorship of the NFL, which concluded when that contract expired this month after roughly three decades.
American Express Chief Marketing Officer Elizabeth Rutledge described the NFL relationship as a "natural extension" of the company’s existing sports portfolio, saying it will enable card members to access exclusive experiences tied to football. The company noted that sports marketing is central to its brand strategy and that its sports portfolio now spans more than 50 leagues, teams, venues and major events worldwide.
At this year’s NFL Draft in Pittsburgh, American Express is staging a fan activation open to the public, while eligible cardholders will receive priority access to selected league-operated experiences. Those cardholder privileges at the Draft include lounge reservations and certain retail offers on site, according to the announcement.
In addition to the partnership, American Express plans to introduce the NFL Extra Points American Express credit card in the United States later this year. The card will be issued by Comenity Capital Bank and is intended to provide rewards tied to NFL purchases and experiences.
American Express already holds team-level agreements with several NFL franchises, including the Atlanta Falcons, the New York Giants, the New York Jets and the Miami Dolphins.
The announcement also appears alongside promotional information tied to investor tools. One such service, ProPicks AI, was mentioned as evaluating AXP along with thousands of other companies using multiple financial metrics and algorithmic strategies. The promotional material characterizes that tool as using AI-driven screening to identify stocks with favorable risk-reward profiles, citing past performance of other picks as examples.
Context for stakeholders
The partnership creates direct consumer-facing benefits for American Express cardholders while expanding the company's footprint in sports marketing. For the NFL, the deal provides a payments partnership aligned with the league’s event and international expansion plans.