Nov. 8, 1926: The AFL’s New York Yankees and Los Angeles Wildcats faced off at Toronto’s Maple Leaf Stadium in the first pro football game played outside of the United States. (Photo: NFL)
2026 INTERNATIONAL GAMES SLATE
The 2026 season brings the NFL to more countries than ever, featuring a record-breaking nine games played across four continents, seven countries and eight stadiums.
Melbourne (Australia), Rio de Janeiro (Brazil), London (U.K.), Paris (France), Madrid (Spain), Munich (Germany) and Mexico City (Mexico) will all host international games in 2026 as part of the League’s long-term commitment to growing the game throughout the world.
Heading into the 2026 season, 62 regular-season NFL games have been played outside the United States with London, Berlin, Munich, Frankfurt, Madrid, Dublin, São Paulo, Mexico City and Toronto having hosted games to date. New cities hosting games in 2026 include Melbourne, Rio de Janeiro and Paris.
The international slate kicks off in Melbourne, Australia, on Thursday, Sept. 10, as the San Francisco 49ers face the Los Angeles Rams at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
Global Markets Program
Launched in January 2022, the Global Markets Program (GMP) initiative grants NFL clubs access to international territories for marketing, fan engagement and commercialization as part of a long-term, strategic effort to enable clubs to build their global brands while driving NFL fan growth internationally. All 32 clubs now participate in the program, with rights held across 22 international markets. In 2026, the program expanded with the addition of a new market – Italy – and three clubs extending their rights to include further countries.
Clubs may submit future proposals for International Committee review annually each spring.
HISTORY OF THE NFL’S INTERNATIONAL GAMES
The NFL’s international journey reached a major milestone on October 2, 2005, when the Arizona Cardinals and San Francisco 49ers played the first regular-season game outside the United States at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City. The game drew 103,467 fans — still the largest crowd ever for an NFL regular-season game.
That matchup helped pave the way for the NFL International Games, which officially launched in 2007 with the New York Giants and Miami Dolphins at London’s Wembley Stadium. Since then, the series has expanded across Europe, North America, and South America, with games hosted in London, Berlin, Munich, Frankfurt, Madrid, Dublin, São Paulo, Mexico City, and Toronto.
Heading into the 2026 season, 62 regular-season NFL games have been played outside the United States. New host cities in 2026 include Melbourne, Rio de Janeiro, and Paris.
NFL Football Operations’ mission is to establish a culture of clarity, consistency and credibility in all aspects of the greatest game. Football is an essential piece of America’s fabric, uniting fans, players and communities with a simple yet powerful bond. We honor the game’s history while continuing to innovate and preserve the sport for future generations of fans, players, coaches, teams and officials.
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