Each year, Doug Glaswell checks the Washington Commanders' slate of home and road opponents with the hope that they will have a game in Europe on their schedule.
Glaswell, who lives in Scotland, fell in love with Washington at seven years old in a sporting goods store when he saw the franchise's previous logo amid a sea of t-shirts. Since then, he's been hooked, and he stayed up late watching games from a farm from that point on. His first in-person viewing experience came last year during the Commanders' home matchup against the Dallas Cowboys, but he would rather the trip not require him to travel across an ocean.
His hope turned to optimism earlier this year once the Miami Dolphins -- one of the Commanders' road opponents -- were revealed to be the "home" team in the NFL's first game played in Madrid, Spain. When the Commanders were revealed as their opponents, Glaswell knew he had to join the thousands of fans making the pilgrimage.
"Even though I've always considered myself a kind of distant fan because I'm so far away, now, with the online community [and] the events the team is running, it just feels connected," Glaswell said.
Glaswell and dozens more Commanders fans from around the world packed themselves in The Irish Rover -- a sports bar just eight minutes from where the Commanders will play the Dolphins at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium -- to show their support for the Burgundy & Gold as they prepare for the historic matchup. They're eager to see a win, but the opportunity to share their experiences and connection to the franchise has proven to be just as meaningful.
"It's awesome; I've met a lot of cool people," said Erik Paige, who came to Madrid from Germany. "We've had a lot of fun, we're looking forward to having more."
For fans like Paige, the Week 11 matchup is their first opportunity to see the Commanders in person. Paige felt a "straight connection" with Washington when he saw the team play for the first time during the 2017 season. Like many other European fans, however, it isn't easy for Paige to find the time or money to fly to Maryland and visit Northwest Stadium for a game.
So, when the NFL announced that the Commanders would be one of the teams playing overseas, Paige called his girlfriend and said, "We have to go." Paige said there aren't as many Washington fans in Germany, so to have so many of them in one place has been a new experience for him.
"To see the Washington community come together in Madrid, it's a blessing," Paige said.
The game presented long-time fans like Tom Huskerson, who described himself as being a Commanders fan "since I was old enough to walk," from the United States with a can't-miss opportunity as well. Huskerson bought tickets for himself and his wife as a birthday present, which conveniently is Nov. 16 -- the same day as Washington's matchup with Miami.
Huskerson has been through the ups -- the Super Bowl wins and Pro Football Hall of Fame selections -- as well as the downs, and it means "a lot" to him that the franchise has gained this much support around the world. Earlier in the week, he met a fan from Australia who had never attended an NFL game prior to this weekend and made a 22-hour flight with his son to see the Commanders play.
"I love to see all the Commanders faithful just stepping up, no matter what our record is," Huskerson said.
Fans are hoping for a win against the Dolphins, although they're aware of the obstacles in the Commanders' way. Paige cited all the injuries the team has dealt with this year as well as Daron Payne's one-game suspension. The defense, he said, has also had its issues, but he has faith the Commanders will emerge victorious and snap their five-game losing streak.
But the game is almost a secondary issue for some fans when compared to simply being with people who support the same team. Like Paige, Glaswell lives in a country where he said the country's sports "don't have this kind of culture" that he experiences within the Commanders' fanbase. He felt "immediately at home" when he attended Washington's Week 12 game last season because of the welcoming environment the team and his fellow fans created.
"The legendary players, these guys that come out and like shake your hand and take pictures with no problem," Glaswell said. "It's just unbelievable."
And like Paige and the rest of the Commanders fans who traveled to Spain for the game, Glaswell expects a great game on Sunday, but for him, supporting the team is about more than the wins or losses.
"It's about wearing these colors of pride and enjoying everything that comes with that."
