The Steelers have made numerous visits to Ireland over the past two years, holding watch parties and football clinics to help grow the sport and build interest in Sunday’s game.

It will be a far bigger event than their pre-season trip in 1997. The NFL says it will feel like “a mini Super Bowl coming to town”.

Domestic fans who have been travelling to the London games will flock to the Irish capital instead, and more than 30,000 international visitors are expected, many without tickets and many as fans of other teams.

There will be free fan events across the city from Thursday, incorporating Dublin Castle and Dublin City Hall, plus a three-day tailgate event at Merrion Square, which concludes with a watch party on Sunday for those not heading to Croke Park.

“They show up just to be a part of the noise, the excitement, knowing that the NFL is in town, and all 32 teams are represented with the different jerseys,” said NFL pundit Phoebe Schecter. “There is so much to look forward to – and the Steelers know just how to do it big.”

Henry Hodgson, general manager of NFL UK and Ireland, added: “If you’ve ever been to a sports or entertainment event in Dublin, you’ll know that the city really embraces it.

“It’s hard to get away from the feeling that’s it’s totally being taken over by the event. We’re very excited to think about all those NFL jerseys in Temple Bar and beyond over the next few days.”

The Steelers and Vikings are staging pub takeovers in Dublin, but so too are the Kansas City Chiefs and Green Bay Packers. The Chiefs have publicly expressed an interest in playing in Ireland,, external while the NFL says other teams have approached them.

There is no guarantee of a return to Dublin – the NFL will assess Sunday’s game after the event – but if it has the impact many anticipate then annual NFL games could become part of the city’s sporting landscape, as they have in London.