NFL to return to Mexico City in 2019 despite field problems

The NFL will travel south of the border in 2019.

The league and Mexico's President-Elect Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador confirmed that the third and final game of the existing agreement will be played next year at Estadio Azteca, the NFL announced Monday.

The teams involved -- as well as the date for the game in Mexico's capital city -- will be announced when the NFL's 2019 schedule is released in the spring.

The NFL struck a deal to play three games in Mexico City from 2016-2018 and announced another agreement through 2021 last year.

Monday night's contest between the Kansas City Chiefs (9-1) and Los Angeles Rams (9-1) was originally scheduled to be played at Estadio Azteca, but poor field conditions led the league to move the game to the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.

"The decision is based on the determination -- in consultation with the NFLPA and following a meeting and field inspection this afternoon by NFL and club field experts as well as local and independent outside experts -- that the playing field at Estadio Azteca does not meet NFL standards for playability and consistency and will not meet those standards by next Monday," the league wrote in a statement last week.

NFL teams that forgo a home game to play internationally are required to keep their home stadium available as a contingency.