The NFL is going global in a big way in 2026, unveiling its largest-ever international slate with nine games across four continents. The San Francisco 49ers will be at the center of the action, bookending the season with historic matchups in Australia and Mexico City.
The 49ers kick off the international excitement in Week 1, facing NFC West rival Los Angeles Rams in Melbourne, Australia—the league's first-ever game Down Under. This Thursday night showdown on September 10 will air on Netflix, though fans in Melbourne will actually catch it live on Friday morning. It's a bold start to the season that sets the tone for a truly global campaign.
Come Week 11, the 49ers return to international soil as the home team in Mexico City for a Sunday night clash against the Minnesota Vikings on November 22. The Vikings are no strangers to globe-trotting, having made history last season with the NFL's first multi-city international road trip, playing in Dublin and London back-to-back. This time, they'll look to make their mark in the vibrant atmosphere of Estadio Azteca.
The international slate spans seven cities and eight stadiums, including three games in London—the league's most frequent overseas destination. The Jacksonville Jaguars are making waves by moving consecutive home games abroad for the first time. They'll host the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 5 at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on October 11, then face AFC South rival Houston Texans at Wembley Stadium on October 18. The Washington Commanders also get in on the London action, hosting the Indianapolis Colts at Tottenham on October 4.
Paris joins the NFL map for the first time in Week 7, with the New Orleans Saints as the home team against the Pittsburgh Steelers on October 25. Meanwhile, Munich welcomes the Detroit Lions as hosts against the New England Patriots in Week 10 on November 15. And in a previously announced highlight, the Dallas Cowboys will be the home team in Rio de Janeiro against the Baltimore Ravens on September 27, a Week 3 late-afternoon game on CBS.
With NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell setting a goal of 16 international games per season, this year's slate is a major step toward making football a truly worldwide sport. For fans and players alike, it's an exciting era of gridiron globetrotting.