The NFL is heading to Spain in 2026, and the Atlanta Falcons are set to be the home team in this historic international matchup. While the exact opponent remains a mystery until the league releases the full regular-season schedule Thursday night, the possibilities have fans buzzing.
Technically, the Falcons will be the home team for this December game, even though it will be played thousands of miles from Mercedes-Benz Stadium. This means one of Atlanta's scheduled home games will be moved to Spain, raising an important question: who should they face?
According to CBS Sports' Bryan DeArdo, the Falcons would be wise to avoid drawing an NFC South rival for this overseas contest. "The NFL already announced that the Falcons will host a December game in Spain. The Falcons play in one of the NFL's most competitive divisions and would surely prefer to play their divisional home games at Mercedes-Benz Stadium rather than on a neutral site," DeArdo noted.
However, there's another way to look at it. While losing a home-field advantage against a division foe is less than ideal, the other teams scheduled to visit Atlanta this season are arguably much tougher opponents. If it's not the Saints, Buccaneers, or Panthers, the Falcons could be "hosting" the Detroit Lions, Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, San Francisco 49ers, or Kansas City Chiefs.
The Ravens, Bengals, Chiefs, and 49ers all battled significant injuries last season, but when healthy, they are formidable playoff contenders. In contrast, the Saints finished 2025 with a 6-11 record, the worst among Atlanta's slated NFC home opponents. From a competitive standpoint, facing New Orleans might actually be the most favorable option—the lower stakes help offset the lost home-field advantage.
If the opponent must come from the tougher group, the 49ers present an interesting case. San Francisco would have to travel nearly 3,000 miles farther than the Falcons to reach Spain, and they'd likely be kicking off at 6:00 a.m. local time. That travel disadvantage could work in Atlanta's favor. On the other hand, the Niners won 12 games last season and match up well against the Falcons on paper, making them a dangerous draw.
Whether it's a division rival or a powerhouse from the AFC or NFC, the Falcons' trip to Spain promises to be a memorable chapter in the league's global expansion. For fans, it's also a perfect opportunity to gear up in Falcons apparel and show support from anywhere in the world.