The National Football League continues to take its spectacle beyond the borders of the United States. What began several years ago as a targeted effort in strategic markets has evolved into a sustained internationalization strategy aimed at bringing American football to millions of fans across different continents. In 2026, that strategy will reach a new milestone with the scheduling of nine regular-season games outside the United States, the highest number in the league’s history.
The decision reflects the growth of a competition that is no longer viewed solely as a domestic product, but as a cultural phenomenon with global reach. From iconic stadiums to cities with deep sporting traditions, the NFL is working to build new audiences and strengthen its presence in territories where interest in the sport has increased significantly over the past decade.
A Season That Will Span Four Continents
The 2026 international schedule will cover seven countries and four continents, including debuts in two venues of enormous sporting significance. The season will begin in September at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, where the San Francisco 49ers will face the Los Angeles Rams in the league’s first official game in Australia. The choice of the historic venue, which holds more than 100,000 spectators, underscores the scale of the NFL’s commitment to Oceania.
Weeks later, the action will move to the Maracanã, where the Baltimore Ravens will take on the Dallas Cowboys. The traditional London series will follow with three games before the league’s historic debut in Paris, where the Pittsburgh Steelers will meet the New Orleans Saints at the Stade de France.
New Markets and Iconic Stadiums for a Global League
The expansion will also include a return to Madrid, where the Cincinnati Bengals will face the Atlanta Falcons at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium. In Munich, the New England Patriots will square off against the Detroit Lions at the Allianz Arena, while the international tour will conclude in Mexico City with a matchup between the Minnesota Vikings and the 49ers at Estadio Banorte.
Two franchises will play a particularly prominent role in this global journey. The 49ers will play two international games, as will the Jacksonville Jaguars, who will further strengthen their close relationship with London fans by playing consecutive games in the British capital. More than just a sequence of dates, the 2026 schedule shows how the NFL continues to build a stable presence around the world, connecting with new generations of fans and turning every game into an international sporting event.
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