Goodell discusses London expansion

Commissioner Roger Goodell told British NFL fans Saturday there was the potential for a London-based franchise in the future if the International Series continues to be a success.

The NFL returns to Wembley Stadium on Sunday for the fifth annual regular-season game held in London as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers take on the Chicago Bears.

Goodell spoke on the potential for a permanent franchise in the British capital during a forum with 130 fans at a luxury hotel in central London.

"The ultimate goal is to continue to expand our game," Goodell said, as reported by the Chicago Sun-Times. "You see from the fans reaction today [Saturday], they understand the game. They understand football, and they want more of it. So our job is to find more football and find more fans. If we're successful with that, then maybe a franchise is part of that."

Goodell recently said multiple games could be played in London as early as next year, while a small group of teams will be visiting more often in what could be a prelude to one eventually being based in the UK.

It came after a league meeting in Houston voted in favor of extending the run of International Series games at Wembley until 2016.