Eight international NFL games are scheduled NFL Expands International Games Across Three Continents in 2026

The National Football League plans to take its product to multiple continents in 2026 as part of its continuing international expansion strategy. The NFL will stage games in Europe, South America, and Australia, adding new markets while maintaining its growing presence overseas.

Among the scheduled destinations are Melbourne in Australia, Rio de Janeiro in Brazil, and Paris in France. The Paris game will mark the first time the NFL has staged a regular-season contest in France. At the same time, the league will return to several cities where international games have already been successful.

While the NFL expects strong fan interest, the growing complexity of global geopolitics means that receptions in international markets may not always be predictable.

Paris Game Highlights New International Market

One of the most notable additions to the 2026 international schedule is the game scheduled for Paris. The matchup will feature the New Orleans Saints as the designated team.

France represents a relatively new market for the NFL compared with other European locations. By bringing a regular-season game to Paris, the league hopes to expand its footprint in continental Europe and attract new fans to American football.

International games have become a key part of the NFL’s marketing strategy, helping introduce the sport to audiences that may have limited exposure to the league’s regular broadcasts.

Established International Stops Remain on the Schedule

The 2026 international lineup will also include several cities that have previously hosted NFL games. The league will return to Mexico City in Mexico after a three-year absence caused by stadium renovations. Mexico has long been one of the NFL’s strongest international markets.

In Europe, games will again take place in Munich in Germany and Madrid in Spain. The league will also continue its long-running series of matchups in London in United Kingdom, where three games are scheduled.

London has become the NFL’s most established international hub. The league has played regular-season games there for more than a decade and has developed a consistent fan base in the United Kingdom.

The NFL’s Long History of Global Ambitions

The NFL’s push for international growth is not new. League owners have spent decades exploring opportunities to expand American football beyond the United States.

In the mid-2000s, the league even explored staging a preseason game in Beijing in China involving the New England Patriots, owned by Robert Kraft. The plan was to play the game in 2007, exactly one year before the 2008 Summer Olympics opened in Beijing.

However, negotiations between the league and Chinese officials ultimately failed, preventing the event from taking place. Despite that setback, the NFL has continued pursuing international markets with increasing intensity.

Schedule Expansion and Financial Incentives

League owners are also exploring the possibility of expanding the regular season from 17 games to 18 games. One motivation behind the proposal is the ability to schedule an international game for every NFL team each season.

The idea has faced resistance from the National Football League Players Association, which represents the players and has expressed concerns about the physical toll of an additional regular-season game.

Still, financial incentives could eventually influence negotiations. International games generate significant revenue through broadcasting rights, sponsorships, ticket sales, and merchandise. If league owners present a lucrative enough financial package, players may ultimately become more receptive to expanding the schedule.

For the NFL, international games are about more than just global promotion. They represent a major business opportunity, reinforcing the league’s long-standing belief that its product can succeed in markets around the world.

Evan Weiner’s books are available at iTunes – https://books.apple.com/us/author/evan-weiner/id595575191

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The NFL played a game in Dublin in 2025