THE TRANSATLANTIC MAGAZINE
THE TRANSATLANTIC MAGAZINE
Australia and France join the UK, Germany, Spain, Brazil, Mexico to host regular season games
Four continents. Seven countries. Eight stadiums. 16 teams.
If you didn’t believe the National Football League was going global, you might want to think again. The slow drip-feeding of the announcements has now been completed, with the NFL announcing the full slate of International games, ahead of the full 2026 regular season schedule release.
We already knew of new territories being given games – Australia and France – and we even knew some of the teams that will play – the Dallas Cowboys, San Francisco 49ers, Jacksonville Jaguars and Washington Commanders were some of the early confirmations. Now we have the remaining teams and confirmation of the kickoff times, which make for interesting viewing times for the NFL faithful across the globe.
Some intriguing matchups await, as most teams were either strong playoff contenders last season or have serious hopes of making a run this time around. Teams have strengthened during the offseason with free agency and draft picks. As ever, the League searches for parity among its 32 teams, and with the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots contesting the Super Bowl this past February, it is evident they have found this, as neither team was expected to progress as they did throughout the campaign.
Opening week of the 2026 season sees the first game overseas, with the 49ers taking on division rivals Los Angeles Rams at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground in Australia. This really is laying down a marker for the NFL as it tests the water in a nation that is largely a hotbed for Rugby League and Aussie Rules football. Both have hard-hitting at their core, so the shoulder pads and trenches of this oval-shaped ball game should definitely win over fans.
Two weeks later, the Baltimore Ravens battle the Dallas Cowboys with another iconic stadium playing host. Rio’s Maracanã Stadium is no stranger to huge sporting events (2016 Olympics, 2014 World Cup) and is the spiritual home of the Brazil national soccer team, so it will adapt well to having America's Team [the Cowboys].
A week later, London becomes home for the NFL for three straight weeks. International Series games in the UK’s capital started way back in 2007, and the League has not forgotten its fanbase, granting it a triple slot. The Commanders face the Indianapolis Colts, before the Jacksonville Jaguars play the first of their two games, the Philadelphia Eagles, and then the Wembley Stadium roots grow deeper when they tackle the Houston Texans.
The bandwagon rolls on a week later to Paris, France. For the first time Parisians will see NFL action close up and personal as the Pittsburgh Steelers (who also played the first-ever game in Dublin, Ireland, last year) face the New Orleans Saints.
There’s a short break before the train moves into Madrid, Spain, for a Week 9 encounter between the Cincinnati Bengals and Atlanta Falcons.
Munich follows seven days later, and the runners-up from last year, the Patriots, have a tough test against the Detroit Lions.
South America gets its second helping of action as the 49ers are on the move again, this time it is Mexico City and the Minnesota Vikings, in the last game of the series in Week 11.
| Week | Date | Time (ET) | Match | Location | Stadium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sep. 10 | 8.35pm | 49ers v Rams | Melbourne, Australia | MCG |
| 3 | Sep. 27 | 4.25pm | Ravens v Cowboys | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | Maracanã |
| 4 | Oct. 4 | 9.30am | Colts v Commanders | London, England | Tottenham |
| 5 | Oct. 11 | 9,30am | Eagles v Jaguars | London, England | Tottenham |
| 6 | Oct. 18 | 9.30am | Texans v Jaguars | London, England | Wembley |
| 7 | Oct. 25 | 9.30am | Steelers v Saints | Paris, France | Stade de France |
| 9 | Nov. 8 | 9.30am | Bengals v Falcons | Madrid, Spain | Bernabéu |
| 10 | Nov. 15 | 9.30am | Patriots v Lions | Munich, Germany | Bayern Munich Arena |
| 11 | Nov. 22 | 8.20pm | Vikings v 49ers | Mexico City, Mexico | Banorte (Estadio Azteca) |
