The NFL has continued to expand its global presence and there will be nine games as part of the International Series for 2026, including the league’s first games in Australia and France. There will not be an NFL game in Ireland this year, but there will be games in the United Kingdom, Spain, Brazil, Mexico, and Germany like we’ve seen in recent seasons.
It should be noted that the game in Brazil will not be in Sao Paulo this year, but rather Rio de Janeiro and it will not be during Week 1. The Week 1 international game will be held in Melbourne, Australia instead, so that matchup will kick off the overseas action for the 2026 season.
Let’s look at the nine NFL International Series games with some notes and nuggets.
Week 1 – Melbourne, Australia – 49ers vs. Rams
Before the entirety of the Week 1 schedule was announced, this game was set for Thursday, September 10 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground with an 8:35 p.m. ET start time. Accounting for a 17-hour time difference, it is going to be a very weird 10:35 a.m. local time kickoff on Friday, September 11.
The Rams were designated the home team for this game back on February 5, 2025, so the plans have been in place for a long time and the Rams organization has known that the game is coming. The average temperature in Melbourne is in the mid 60s in September and the average rainfall is around a couple of inches, so the players shouldn’t have to deal with any extreme weather conditions.
The 49ers are 3-0 in international games, including a 38-10 win over the Cardinals in Mexico City in 2022 in their most recent game outside the U.S. They will play there again this season in November. The Rams won 35-7 in London last season against the Jaguars.
Week 3 – Rio de Janeiro, Brazil – Ravens vs. Cowboys
As mentioned in the intro, the NFL will go to Rio instead of Sao Paulo this time around, as the Ravens and Cowboys face off at Maracana Stadium on September 27 in Week 3. This game will be in the 4:25 p.m. ET window, which means a 5:25 p.m. local kickoff, as Brazil is one hour ahead of Eastern Standard Time.
The two previous Brazil games were in Week 1, as the Eagles beat the Packers and the Chargers beat the Chiefs. This will be just the second international game for “America’s Team”, as the Cowboys last played overseas in 2014 and won 31-17 over the Jaguars at Wembley Stadium.
Baltimore is 1-1 outside of the U.S., having last played in 2023 in Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Their other international game was a 44-7 shellacking at the hands of the Jaguars in 2017.
Week 4 – London, United Kingdom – Colts vs. Commanders
The first London game will be at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and feature the Colts and Commanders, as both teams play an international game for the second straight year. Indianapolis won in Berlin and Washington lost in Madrid, as the Commanders played the NFL’s first game in Spain. They fell 16-13 to the Dolphins in overtime.
The Colts also went to overtime, but they won 31-25 over the Falcons in the league’s first game in Berlin. The NFL had previously played twice in Munich and twice in Frankfurt. Lifetime, the Colts are 2-1 internationally and the Washington franchise is 0-1-1.
This October 4 matchup is the first of two straight games at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and will be that 9:30 a.m. ET kickoff that we all love to get the day going.
Week 5 – London, United Kingdom – Eagles vs. Jaguars
London’s de facto home team will be in town in Week 5 and Week 6, as the Jaguars first host the Eagles and then host the Texans in the lone division rivalry game of the International Series slate.
Jacksonville has split perfectly down the middle at 7-7 in these international matchups, while the Eagles are 2-0, having most recently won in Brazil back in 2024 with a 34-29 triumph over the Packers. Their other overseas game was at Wembley Stadium against the Jaguars back in 2018, a game that they won 24-18.
As mentioned, this one will be at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and kick off at 9:30 a.m. ET on Sunday, October 11.
Week 6 – London, United Kingdom – Texans vs. Jaguars
Will the Jaguars have an advantage having a second straight week in London? They will have a minor change of scenery, as this will serve as the lone game at Wembley Stadium for the 2026 season. The Jaguars only played one London game last season, but did play consecutive games in 2024 and 2023 and won the second game both times. They also won the first game in 2023.
The Texans are 1-1 in international games and haven’t played one since 2019 when they went to Wembley and crushed the Jaguars by a 26-3 count. This October 18 kickoff will wrap up the London slate for 2026.
Week 7 – Paris, France – Steelers vs. Saints
The NFL’s first-ever game in Paris will feature the Steelers and Saints, as the fleur de lis makes an appearance at Stade de France. Like the London games, this will be a 9:30 a.m. ET kickoff. The Saints have not played internationally since 2022, whereas the Steelers were part of last year’s first Ireland game, a 24-21 win over the Vikings at Croke Park. Their only other international game came back in 2013 when they lost 34-17 to the Vikings.
The Saints have played three previous times in London, racking up a 2-1 record. Their most recent game in Jolly Old England was back in 2022, so it’s been a little while. The Vikings come up again here, as they beat the Saints 28-25 in that one. New Orleans beat the Chargers back in 2008 in the second-ever London game and shut out the Dolphins at Wembley in 2017.
This game is slated for Sunday, October 25.
Week 9 – Madrid, Spain – Bengals vs. Falcons
After a week of games exclusively in the United States, the league goes international again for this matchup between the Bengals and Falcons in Madrid. The NFL played its first game in Spain last season and will be back for more here in the same venue at Bernabeu Stadium.
Cincinnati has only played two previous games overseas and has not won either of them, racking up a loss and a tie, with the most recent appearance outside the U.S. coming back in 2019.
The Falcons are just 1-3 in international games, including their 31-25 loss in Berlin last season. Their first international game came back in 2014, but the others have all been in 2021 or later. This Sunday, November 8 game also features a 9:30 a.m. ET kickoff.
Week 10 – Munich, Germany – Patriots vs. Lions
The NFL played its first game in Berlin last year, but returns to Munich this year for the Patriots vs. Lions at FC Bayern Munich Stadium, also known as Allianz Arena. If it seems like the Lions haven’t had an international game in a while, it’s because they haven’t. This will be Detroit’s first game overseas since 2015 and they are 1-1 in those games.
The Patriots, meanwhile, just played in London back in 2024 and lost to the Jaguars in what was Jacksonville’s second straight game across the Atlantic. This will actually be the second game in Germany for New England, as they lost a 10-6 barnburner to the Colts back in 2023 in Frankfurt.
Like the London and Paris games, this one is slated for a 9:30 a.m. ET kickoff on Sunday, November 15, making up an eventful couple weeks for the Lions.
Week 11 – Mexico City, Mexico – Vikings vs. 49ers
The 49ers kick off the 2026 International Schedule for the NFL and also close it out. After opening the season in Melbourne, the 49ers will play in the high elevation of Mexico City against the Vikings. It is hard to believe, but this is the first Mexico game for the NFL since 2022, which the 49ers were also a part of when they crushed the Cardinals 38-10.
The Vikings have not yet played in Mexico, but they are no stranger to international affairs, having played six such games already. They are 5-1 in those games and beat the Browns last season in London. They also played in London in 2024 and won that game. That said, Minnesota did suffer their first defeat as an organization in Europe with last year’s 24-21 loss to Pittsburgh in Ireland before making amends in the UK a week later.
This game will actually be Sunday Night Football in Week 11, so that’ll be an 8:20 p.m. ET kickoff on November 22.
