The National Football League has officially confirmed its full international schedule for the 2026 season, marking the largest overseas slate in league history with nine games spread across seven cities on four continents. The announcement was made on Wednesday, a day before the complete schedule for all 32 teams is set to be released.
San Francisco 49ers to Play in Australia and Mexico
The San Francisco 49ers will feature prominently in the international lineup, bookending the schedule with games in Melbourne and Mexico City. They will open the season against the NFC West rival Los Angeles Rams at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) on 10 September. The game, which will be broadcast on Netflix, is scheduled for Thursday night in the US but will take place on Friday morning local time in Australia. The 49ers will then face the Minnesota Vikings in Mexico City on 22 November, this time as the home team in a Sunday night contest.
Three Games in London
London remains a key destination for the NFL, hosting three matchups in 2026. The Jacksonville Jaguars will play consecutive home games abroad for the first time, facing the Philadelphia Eagles at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on 11 October and the Houston Texans at Wembley Stadium on 18 October. The Washington Commanders will also host the Indianapolis Colts at Tottenham on 4 October.
New Markets: Paris and Rio de Janeiro
The NFL will debut in two new international markets this season. The New Orleans Saints will host the Pittsburgh Steelers in Paris on 25 October, marking the first NFL game in the French capital. The Dallas Cowboys will host the Baltimore Ravens in Rio de Janeiro on 27 September, as previously announced.
Other International Matchups
The Detroit Lions will host the New England Patriots in Munich on 15 November, while the Atlanta Falcons will host the Cincinnati Bengals in Madrid on 8 November. The Vikings, who made history last year with a multi-city international road trip, will again travel abroad to face the 49ers in Mexico City.
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has expressed a goal of expanding to 16 international games per season, and the 2026 schedule represents a significant step toward that target.
Full 2026 NFL International Schedule
- 10 September: San Francisco 49ers vs. Los Angeles Rams (Melbourne, Australia)
- 27 September: Baltimore Ravens vs. Dallas Cowboys (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil)
- 4 October: Indianapolis Colts vs. Washington Commanders (Tottenham, London)
- 11 October: Philadelphia Eagles vs. Jacksonville Jaguars (Tottenham, London)
- 18 October: Houston Texans vs. Jacksonville Jaguars (Wembley, London)
- 25 October: Pittsburgh Steelers vs. New Orleans Saints (Paris, France)
- 8 November: Cincinnati Bengals vs. Atlanta Falcons (Madrid, Spain)
- 15 November: New England Patriots vs. Detroit Lions (Munich, Germany)
- 22 November: Minnesota Vikings vs. San Francisco 49ers (Mexico City, Mexico)
The schedule underscores the NFL's commitment to expanding its global footprint, with nine games outside the United States in 2026.
