MADRID, Spain — Mike McDaniel opens his Wednesday news conference in Madrid by asking the assembled media “¿Que tal?”

The translation of that Spanish term is “what’s up?” or “how are things?”

It might not be used much in South Florida because not every continent, region or even island speaks the same Spanish, but the intended message was clear.

It was the Miami Dolphins head coach’s way of connecting to the country that will host Sunday’s game against the Washington Commanders, becoming the NFL’s first regular-season game played in Spain.

Why is Spain the next frontier for the NFL, and the Dolphins?

Because Miami hopes to build and develop fans in the Spanish-speaking regions of the world, and was assigned that duty by the NFL when each NFL team was designated a foreign territory last spring.

Gaining a footprint in those countries is important because there are millions of dollars — if not billions — at stake.

Soccer’s increasing popularity in the U.S., especially through the MLS and international leagues, creates a larger entertainment competitor for the NFL’s audience and marketing dollars.

Though the NFL still holds the top spot in all sports in the United States — primarily because of its billion-dollar media deals — soccer leagues have a stronger global footprint, which puts pressure on the NFL to strengthen its international presence and revenue streams.

Soccer, or futbol, as it’s called everywhere outside of America, began to grow rapidly in the U.S. in the 1970s, 1980 and early 1990s, when more children started playing in youth leagues.

For roughly a decade, Americans could watch (English Premier League), La Liga (Spanish league) and other futbol leagues on American TV networks, and those ratings have been steadily growing.

The soccer audience has gotten so substantial Americans have actually formulated favorite foreign teams, and games like EA Sport’s FIFA is annually among the gaming platform’s top seller.

The World Cup in 1994 and the arrival of MLS in 1996 marked critical milestones in the development of soccer in the U.S. Since then futbol has been encroaching on the NFL’s turf, and the International Games have been football’s counterattack.

The Dolphins are no strangers to playing overseas.

Miami played in the NFL’s first International Series game in 2007, losing 13-10 to the New York Giants in London, and the Dolphins will have played a total of eight international games in the regular season after Sunday.

Seven of them have come during Steve Ross’ tenure as the Dolphins owner.

Ross has been a driving force for the NFL’s infusion into the international market, which the league feels will strengthen the NFL’s worldwide brand and create an added revenue stream.

Madrid becomes the fourth European city to host an NFL regular-season game, joining London, Munich and Frankfurt, Germany. The only city the Dolphins haven’t played in is Munich.

Outside of Jacksonville, which has used London for home games annually for the past decade-plus, hosting 13 games, and Buffalo, which played home games in nearby Toronto (eight), no team has played more international games than the Dolphins.

But these international games come at a cost.

Unfortunately for South Florida fans, the Dolphins, which still have a strong International brand of the Dan Marino era, have had to give up four home games to make the international expansion work.

And players have long pointed out that the international games are taxing to their bodies because they throw players off their normal routines, which is why international games are usually followed with a bye week.

Both the Dolphins and Commanders will be in Madrid all week preparing for the game, so at least the teams competing are on an even playing field.

“You lose six hours of prep for your week,” fullback Alec Ingold confessed. “That is a lot tougher on the coaches than the players. But the biggest advantage is the camaraderie.”

Ingold’s referring to the team getting to hang with one another on and off the field for an entire week.

Pass rusher Bradley Chubb, who visited Madrid this past summer with his Dominican fiancee, took his teammates shopping at some of Madrid’s high-end stores near the team hotel on Tuesday, which is the day the Dolphins arrived. That was the players' lone day off for the week.

Walking the streets of Madrid a number of players found promotional material of themselves and their teammates, and took pictures and video with it.

On Wednesday the team began the week of practice, film study and meetings at Atlético de Madrid’s stadium. To execute one of these international trips it takes months of planning and numerous site visits.

“You can tell its first-class for sure,” McDaniel said of the practice venue, which the team will use all week. “We feel very fortunate to be able to have access to a facility like this to prepare for an NFL game.”

That wasn’t always the case in these international games, but the NFL has steadily learned how to make the experience better for the players and coaches. This trip the Dolphins have access to hot tubs, cold tubs, saunas and steam rooms at the practice facility and their hotel.

Chubb said some people brought their masseuse and physical therapist with them to Madrid.

“Those people that you really need, you got to drop a little bread to get them out here,” said Chubb, who like most NFL players — especially those in their 30s or approaching it — gets multiple massages every week before Sunday.

Speaking of Sunday, game day at these international games is quite an experience because the fans typically don’t know when to cheer, or why they need to. The atmosphere is simply a celebration, much like the Super Bowl.

And those in attendance usually have no loyalties to any of the teams playing in the game so you will see jerseys from all 32 teams spread out all throughout the city and the stadium.

It’s a unique experience that draws thousands of spectators.

A celebration of football, with a futbol twist of unique chants and cheers.

The goal is for the experience to improve as the international games become more common.

Kind of like learning a second language. Sometimes patience and understanding are required.

“I can start a conversation,” Chubb said when asked how much Spanish he knew. “I can’t continue a conversation.”

Everyone has to start somewhere.

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