Texans expected to play game in Mexico City next season

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SAN FRANCISCO – The Texans and Oakland Raiders will play a regular-season game in Mexico City next season.

It will be a home game at Estadio Azteca for the Raiders, who failed to gain approval to move to Los Angeles last month and have yet to sign a new stadium lease in Oakland.

Commissioner Roger Goodell will make the Texans-Raiders game official Friday when he makes his annual state-of-the-NFL address, according to league officials familiar with the situation.

The NFL wants to expand its international series outside the United Kingdom. Three regular-season games are scheduled in England next season. The Texans and Raiders will play the first regular-season game in Mexico City since 2005 when Arizona defeated San Francisco.

Owner Bob McNair and president Jamey Rootes asked the NFL to get the Texans involved in the international series, preferably in Mexico City because they have a growing fan base in Mexico and want to expand their brand.

McNair has insisted he won't give up a home game at NRG Stadium but would like to play a road game in Mexico City. The Raiders are a natural because they host the Texans and have stadium issues.

Rootes, who was part of a Houston group of business and political leaders that visited Mexico City during the season, addressed the subject of playing there after the trip.

The Houston Texans seem likely to play a game in Mexico City next season. Check out some of the Houston Texans merch you can buy in Mexico. The Houston Texans seem likely to play a game in Mexico City next season. Check out some of the Houston Texans merch you can buy in Mexico. Photo: Robert Laberge, Getty Images Photo: Robert Laberge, Getty Images Image 1 of / 26 Caption Close Texans expected to play game in Mexico City next season 1 / 26 Back to Gallery

"We've always expressed that we have an interest in participating internationally as a road team (and), we've made it clear that we were most interested in doing that in Mexico," Rootes said after the visit. "It's an amazing opportunity for teams and the league.

"Mexico City is a logical choice for a team like the Texans. We'd be a great ambassador for the league."

The Cardinals-49ers game drew a crowd of 103,467 in 2005 at Estadio Azteca.

The largest crowd to watch an NFL game was in the 1994 preseason. The Oilers beat the Dallas Cowboys before 112,246.

Estadio Azteca was renovated in 2013, and capacity has been reduced to 95,500.