The Detroit Lions have found some new best friends in Germany.
The Lions and 1. FC Köln, a historic soccer club based in Cologne, Germany, have announced a strategic partnership that aims to expand interest in both sports in the United States and Germany. This is the Lions’ first partnership with a team from outside the U.S.
“This collaboration brings together two teams with proud histories, resilient fanbases, and unmatched loyalty from their communities,” said Ashton Mullinix, a Lions senior vice president. “Both clubs helped shape their leagues in their respective countries in countless ways, have deep cultural roots, and a strong sense of pride.”
The partnership will include fan events, watch parties, clinics and collaborative social media content between the two teams. It will also include what the Lions call “cross-team access,” which includes facility usage for both teams in Detroit and Cologne.
Köln, founded in 1948, currently plays in the Bundesliga, the top flight of German soccer leagues. They are two-time Bundesliga champions, winning the domestic trophy in the 1963-64 and 1977-78 seasons.
Philipp Lisenfeld, Köln’s managing director, touted the Lions as an “ideal partner” in the club’s quest to expand its international presence.
“Cologne and Detroit are not only linked by sport, but also by their history as an important location for the automotive industry. In this case, both cities have historical links to the car manufacturer, Ford,” said Lisenfeld.
Ford has operated an assembly plant in Cologne since 1931.
As part of the NFL’s continued expansion into international markets, the Lions were awarded international marketing rights for Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Canada beginning on April 1, 2024.
This isn’t the first collaboration between the Lions and Cologne. During the second day of the 2025 NFL Draft on April 25, the Lions announced their fifth-round pick Miles Frazier via German IndyNXT driver Sophia Floersch, who made the announcement at the Detroit Lions exhibition at the German Sport and Olympic Museum in Cologne.
The Lions were not selected to play an international game in 2025, despite previous conversations connecting them to a game in Germany. The Lions have played in two international games, a 22-21 victory over the Atlanta Falcons in London on Oct. 26, 2014, and a 45-10 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in London on Nov. 1, 2015.
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