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America's most iconic sports event, the Super Bowl, could be staged outside the US for the first time once a London NFL franchise is up and running.

The 51st Super Bowl takes place on Sunday under the shadow of Donald Trump's presidency and the lasting legacy of Tom Brady's Deflategate suspension.

But the annual showpiece, this year in Houston, Texas between the New England Patriots and the Atlanta Falcons, guarantees US television's biggest audience by far every year — about 110million people in the US alone. 

Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning (right) and Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton (left) pictured after the end of the NFL's Super Bowl 50 in February 2016

Denver Broncos star Manning holds up the trophy after the NFL Super Bowl 50

Multi-national companies pay £4m for 30-second advertisement slots, the world's biggest music stars vie to play the half-time show and a nation unites around a single event like no other.

Yet an NFL spokesman said: 'Super Bowls are awarded to NFL team cities partly as a way of recognising the great contribution they make to the success of the league. A Super Bowl in London would not be considered until such time that a UK franchise was in operation.

'But at that point, London would be free to participate in the Super Bowl bidding process along with other NFL cities.'

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell reiterated in October that his organisation still wants a London team franchise — which might yet be based at Tottenham's new stadium — with a target date as early as 2022.

NFL insiders know that staging the Super Bowl away from the US, even once, might help internationalise their sport at a time when expansion and global growth are key aims.

A London team franchise might yet be based at Tottenham's new stadium (pictured)

The Super Bowl is America's most iconic sports event with about 110million people in the US watching it on TV alone

'The potential for accelerated international growth would be one of the multiple factors considered when determining Super Bowl sites,' said the NFL spokesman. There is political backing for a London NFL club at the highest level on both sides of the Atlantic and President Trump has just appointed NFL team owner Woody Johnson, of the New York Jets, to be the country's new ambassador to Britain.

The build-up to the match has been dominated by unease about President Trump and his supposed friendships to Patriots stars, such as quarterback Brady.

Patriots owner Robert Kraft said: 'If we win on Sunday, I'm inviting him formally to come to our opener next season.'