Playing a game in London in 2024 season would be a significant boost to the San Francisco 49ers

On Tuesday, NFL UK and Ireland teased a return of the San Francisco 49ers to the shores of the United Kingdom.

A post on X (formerly Twitter) featured Niners wide receiver Deebo Samuel saying there is "big news coming". That post was captioned with a popcorn emoji and a Union Jack, appearing to hint at the Niners playing a London game in 2024.

The 49ers have played twice in London, winning both games. They beat the Denver Broncos at Wembley in 2010 and prevailed at the same venue three years later against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

If their long absence from London was to end this year, it would be for a road game against the Minnesota Vikings. The Vikings are the only team confirmed as a home team for the London games that the 49ers are scheduled to face on the road in 2024.

And they would likely be very grateful for the chance to face the Vikings away from Minnesota.

Indeed, the 49ers have not beaten the Vikings on the road since the 1992 season and suffered defeat at U.S. Bank Stadium last season, going down to a dramatic 22-17 loss in Week 7.

San Francisco will likely be favored against Minnesota regardless of that record and location of the game, but the 49ers would surely feel much more comfortable playing at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, where their massive UK fanbase would be well represented, than in the raucous road environment in Minneapolis.

The travel element makes international games a challenge for any team, but that extra logistical issue may be something the 49ers are happy to deal with if it keeps them away from a place where they have not prevailed in over three decades.