Bears and Buccaneers to meet at Wembley

Should the fixture be held as planned it will be the fifth-consecutive year that a regular-season game has been played in London, with the Buccaneers becoming the first side to make a second visit to the capital during that period following their defeat to the New England Patriots in 2009.

The Bears, who reached the NFC Championship game last season, also have links to Wembley after playing a pre-season game, the first official NFL match held in Britain, at the old ground 25 years ago.

However, a question mark remains over whether the game will be staged in London due to the current league lockout as a result of the failure to renegotiate the collective bargaining agreement between team owners and players.

There is a danger that the dispute could see the season cancelled, and an NFL statement said that if it is not resolved by August 1 the game will be played at the Buccaneers’ Raymond James Stadium.

“Our past four games in London have demonstrated the tremendous passion for NFL football that exists in the UK,” said NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell.

“We hope by staging another extraordinary game at Wembley that we can continue to grow our existing fan base and attract even more new fans.”

London Mayor Boris Johnson added: “Continuing London’s love affair with the hugely popular stateside sport, we are proud to once again welcome two of America’s top NFL teams to the capital.

“With a growing local fanbase it is a fantastic opportunity for enthusiasts from London and beyond to experience the unique thrill of a live game in one of the most iconic sports venues around, Wembley Stadium.”

The full schedule for the 2011 NFL season is set to be unveiled on Tuesday.