NFL International Games Expansion 2026: What Fans Need to Know
The Gridiron Truly Goes Global
The National Football League has officially shattered its own boundaries by unveiling its most ambitious international regular-season schedule to date. In a historic announcement, the league confirmed a record-breaking slate of nine international games stretching across four continents, seven countries, and eight world-class stadiums. While London and Germany remain focal anchors of European growth, the expansion features groundbreaking debuts in entirely new territories alongside highly anticipated returns. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and the league's executive team have made it clear that football is no longer an exclusively American pastime, aggressively pushing gridiron culture into massive new sports markets worldwide.
Historic Kickoff in Australia Down Under
The absolute crown jewel of the new expansion is the NFL Streams first-ever regular-season game in Australia, slated for Week 1 on Thursday, September 10. The league is pulling out all the stops for its debut Down Under, pitting fierce NFC West rivals against each other as the San Francisco 49ers take on the Los Angeles Rams. The blockbuster game will take over the legendary Melbourne Cricket Ground, an iconic venue capable of holding over 100,000 passionate spectators. Streaming giant Netflix has secured the exclusive broadcast rights for this historic match, which features reigning MVP Matthew Stafford and a star-studded Rams offense trying to outmaneuver Brock Purdy and a formidable 49ers defense.
Rio de Janeiro Steals the South American Spotlight
Building on the massive commercial success of past games in São Paulo, the league is expanding its Brazilian footprint by bringing live football to Rio de Janeiro for the very first time. On Sunday, September 27, the Baltimore Ravens will square off against the Dallas Cowboys at the historic Maracanã Stadium. This Week 3 matchup marks the third regular-season game hosted in Brazil and promises an electric atmosphere inside one of soccer's most sacred cathedrals. Having Lamar Jackson’s dynamic playing style test the Cowboys' defense in front of an energetic South American crowd is expected to break international viewership records for an early-season game.
The European Footprint Reaches France and Spain
Europe remains the primary driver of the NFL's global campaign, with six of the nine international games taking place across the continent. Paris will officially make its NFL hosting debut on Sunday, October 25, when the Pittsburgh Steelers battle the New Orleans Saints at the majestic Stade de France. Just two weeks later, on November 8, the international series heads to Madrid, Spain, where the Cincinnati Bengals will play the Atlanta Falcons at the newly renovated Bernabéu Stadium. Both matchups give massive traditional European fanbases their first taste of meaningful regular-season football right in their backyards.
Classic Capitals Complete the Global Grid
The remainder of the international schedule relies heavily on highly successful established markets to round out the historic campaign. London will host three consecutive games in October, starting with the Indianapolis Colts facing the Washington Commanders at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on October 4. The Philadelphia Eagles will play the Jacksonville Jaguars at the same venue a week later, followed by a classic Wembley Stadium showdown between the Houston Texans and the Jaguars on October 18. Germany gets its football fix on November 15 when the New England Patriots meet the Detroit Lions at the Allianz Arena in Munich. Finally, the international tour wraps up on November 22 as the NFL returns to Mexico City for the first time since 2022, featuring the Minnesota Vikings against the San Francisco 49ers at Estadio Banorte.
