Arena Football One adds Mexico team as third expansion market, first for international

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Arena Football One continues to expand heading into its first-ever season as it adds an international market to the mix.

The new league announced the Monterrey Kings located in Monterrey, Nuevo León in Mexico as its third expansion team. It’s the first international team to join the league for the 2025 season and more could join, including a team in Canada, in the coming days.

League officials say Kings President Fernando Von Rossum has decades of professional football experience through NFL broadcasts in Mexico, the Pittsburgh Steelers and was the owner of the Monterrey Steel who played in the National Arena League.

“We are looking forward to assembling a great team and delivering a very competitive team to a world class city,” Von Rossum said in a release. “We are excited to join a new league and a higher level of competition for 2025.”

AF1 Commissioner Jeff Fisher shared high praise for Von Rossum and believes the expansion will help the league grow.

“Monterrey has amazing leadership in Fernando Von Rossum,” Fisher said. “His knowledge of football and connections within the industry will be invaluable. We are very excited to grow the game internationally and bring the arena game to Mexico.”

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Anthony Carter

Anthony Carter is the founder and publisher of X1 Media and Arena Insider. Carter grew up in Philadelphia, PA and graduated from Elizabethtown College. He’s a former news anchor, reporter and producer. Carter is also a proud member of the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ). Want to connect with Anthony? Send him an email: acarter@thexonemedia.com

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