As the National Football League continues to grow into a global sport, its international outreach continues to increase along with its popularity.
The NFL announced its 2026 international schedule Wednesday, which included a record-high nine international games spanning from September through November. Of the nine international games, 6 will be hosted in Europe. London will host three international games, while Melbourne, Madrid, Rio de Janeiro, Paris, Munich and Mexico City will all host one.
The San Francisco 49ers and Jacksonville Jaguars both have two international games, while 14 other teams are slated for one of the games abroad. Both the Jaguars’ games will be played in London, UK, in Weeks 5 and 6 at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and Wembley Stadium, respectively.
The UK has consistently hosted at least one NFL game per season since 2007, excluding when the COVID-19 pandemic hit in 2020. France and Australia will both host their first international NFL games in 2026.
The first international game of the season will be a Week 1 division matchup between NFC West foes, the San Francisco 49ers and Los Angeles Rams at Melbourne Cricket Ground in Melbourne, Australia. The 49ers and the Rams both went 12-5 last season and split the two games they played against each other.
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, will host its first-ever NFL game during Week 3, when the Baltimore Ravens and Dallas Cowboys compete at Maracanã Stadium on 27 September. The two squads didn’t play against each other in 2025, but both missed the playoffs. The Ravens held an 8-9 record last season, while the Cowboys went 7-9-1.
The first of three games in London will be Week 4. The Indianapolis Colts and the Washington Commanders are slated to play at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on 4 October. The Colts and the Commanders both finished third in their respective divisions. Indianapolis went 8-9 last season, while the Washington Commanders were 5-12.
Since 2013, the Jacksonville Jaguars have had a game in London every season except for 2020 during COVID-19. Their streak continues in 2026 with a Week 5 contest against the Philadelphia Eagles on 11 October at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Both the Jaguars and the Eagles made trips to the playoffs in 2026 but lost their first matchups in the Wild Card round.
The Jaguars will stay in London for Week 6 to take on the Houston Texans on 18 October at Wembley Stadium, marking the third and final game in the UK. The two AFC South opponents split their two contests against each other a season ago, and both earned their way to the postseason.
While the three NFL games in London will be finished by Week 6, the NFL will stay in Europe for the first-ever game in France. On 25 October, the Pittsburgh Steelers and New Orleans Saints will compete against each other at Stade de France in Paris, France. The Steelers finished 2025 atop the AFC North at 9-8, while the Saints sat at the bottom of the NFC South with a 6-11 record.
The international series will then move to Madrid, Spain, for a Week 9 contest between the Cincinnati Bengals and the Atlanta Falcons on 8 November at Bernabéu Stadium. The game will mark just the second ever NFL game in Spain, as the first was just last season between the Washington Commanders and the Miami Dolphins.
The NFL’s slate of games in Europe will conclude in Munich, Germany. The New England Patriots vs. Detroit Lions on 15 November at FC Bayern Munich Arena. The Patriots made an appearance in the 2025 Super Bowl, which they lost to the Seattle Seahawks in February. Conversely, the Lions missed the playoffs and finished last in the NFC North.
The 49ers, who will open the international schedule in Week 1, will also close the series in Week 11. San Francisco will take on the Minnesota Vikings on 22 November at Estadio Banorte in Mexico City, Mexico. The Vikings finished the 2025 season with a 9-8 record.
Schedule of international games:
Week 1: San Francisco 49ers vs. Los Angeles Rams on 10 September in Melbourne, Australia
Week 3: Baltimore Ravens vs. Dallas Cowboys on 27 September in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Week 4: Indianapolis Colts vs. Washington Commanders on 4 October in London, UK (Tottenham Hotspur Stadium)
Week 5: Philadelphia Eagles vs. Jacksonville Jaguars on 11 October in London, UK (Tottenham Hotspur Stadium)
Week 6: Houston Texans vs. Jacksonville Jaguars on 18 October in London, UK (Wembley Stadium)
Week 7: Pittsburgh Steelers vs. New Orleans Saints on 25 October in Paris, France
Week 9: Cincinnati Bengals vs. Atlanta Falcons on 8 November in Madrid, Spain
Week 10: New England Patriots vs. Detroit Lions on 15 November in Munich, Germany
Week 11: Minnesota Vikings vs. San Francisco 49ers on 22 November in Mexico City, Mexico
