When the 2026 NFL schedule is released on May 14, it will include a record-setting nine international games.
The slate will include three new NFL cities, with Rio de Janeiro, Paris and Melbourne (Australia) all hosting an NFL regular-season game for the first time. The NFL will also return to Mexico City and Munich this year.
Known International Matchups
Melbourne in Week 1 (Sept. 10): 49ers vs. Rams, 8:35 p.m. ET (Netflix)
Rio de Janeiro in Week 3 (Sept. 27): Ravens vs. Cowboys, 4:25 p.m. ET (CBS)
Madrid Prediction
Three teams — the Dolphins, Chiefs and Bears — currently have marketing rights in Spain. The Dolphins went to Madrid last year, and this year, it would be logical for the NFL to send one of the other teams with marketing rights.
Atlanta plays both the Chiefs and Bears at home this year, so one of those two teams will likely be sent to Madrid with the Falcons.
Prediction: Chiefs or Bears
The Chiefs have made it clear they want to play in Spain. "We've been very open and aggressive with the league — as we have been since the beginning — that we want to play in Spain this year," Chiefs president Mark Donovan said at the NFL's Annual League Meeting in March.
Munich Prediction
There's a report that the Giants will play an international game this year. The Giants hold marketing rights in Germany, so they would likely be on board if the NFL decides to send them to Munich.
Prediction: Giants or Buccaneers
The argument against the Giants is that they played in Germany in 2024, so the NFL might be interested in sending another team. If that's the case, the Buccaneers could make sense. Tampa Bay played in the NFL's inaugural Germany game in 2022 but hasn't been back since.
Two teams you can eliminate are the Packers and Vikings. The Lions protected both of those games, according to the Detroit Free Press, which means they can't be moved overseas.
London: Jaguars Hosting Two Games
The Jaguars will head to London for two games. The twist is that they'll be the home team for both, marking the first time in NFL history a team has served as the home team in back-to-back international games.
Prediction 1 (AFC): Browns or Titans
Prediction 2 (NFC): Eagles or Commanders
On the two previous occasions, the NFL had Jacksonville face one AFC team and one NFC team, so it wouldn't be surprising if the league once again goes that route.
On the NFC side, there are only two options: the Eagles or Commanders. Although Washington is already set to host a game in London this year, the NFL could have the Commanders play back-to-back games there.