The NFL has scheduled four games in London in the 2017 season, the league announced today.

It will host four games for the first season ever; it has hosted three games in the capital each season from 2014.

In November it was announced the Miami Dolphins would take on the New Orleans Saints in London next year.

Twickenham hosted its first-ever NFL game this season when the Los Angeles Rams faced the New York Giants on Sunday, October 23.

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said: “We continue to be incredibly excited by the passion and love for the NFL shown by our millions of UK fans.

“London is an amazing city. We have had tremendous support from our fans, from Mayor Khan and other government leaders and business partners, and we are looking forward to taking the next step in the UK by playing four games in London next season.”

With four games in 2017, the league will have played 21 games in the UK since the first regular season game in London in 2007.

Teams and venues for 2017 will be announced at 1pm on Tuesday, December 13, via Facebook Live.

Sadiq Khan said: “London staging a fourth NFL game is fantastic news – not only for the millions of sports fans who get to enjoy our iconic stadiums – but also because it confirms our status as the go-to choice for hosting the world’s biggest sporting events.

“London is the international home of the NFL and staging the equivalent of what would be half an American football team’s home games in the city is a huge step towards my ambition of bringing a franchise to the capital.

“I am really excited to welcome more NFL teams to London next year, as well as thousands of American football fans from around the globe, showing that London is open to the very best sporting events and the world’s greatest athletes.”

Participation in amateur football in the UK has risen by approximately 15 per cent per year since 2007, with the latest figures from Sport England showing that 40,000 people age 14 or older play regularly.

American football is now an officially recognised sport in UK universities and schools.