The International Practice Squad Program is an initiative run by the National Football League (NFL) in which selected players from outside the United States or Canada are assigned to the practice squads of NFL teams. The program began operation in 2004. In 2005, Rolando Cantu of Mexico was promoted to the Arizona Cardinals' active roster after spending the previous season on the practice squad as a member of the program. Players from the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Finland, Sweden, Japan, and Russia have also participated. In 2008, the program sponsored sixteen players, the largest amount to date. The program was not used in 2009.