NFL Locks in Lions for Munich, 4 Home Opponents Have German Ties

The Lions will host the NFL’s 2026 regular-season game in Munich, becoming the sixth team confirmed to be playing an international contest this fall.

A record nine NFL games will be played outside the U.S.; the Madrid game and a pair of London games at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium are the only ones left without a designated home team.

• London (Wembley Stadium): Jaguars
• London (Tottenham Hotspur Stadium 2x): TBD
• Madrid: TBD
• Melbourne: Rams
• Mexico City: 49ers
• Munich: Lions
• Paris: Saints
• Rio de Janeiro: Cowboys

The 49ers will play two international games. In addition to giving up a home game to play in Mexico City, the franchise will play the Rams in Australia as the designated away team. 

Matchmaker

The Lions, who last played internationally in 2015 (against the Chiefs in London), are one of 11 NFL franchises with activation rights in Germany as part of the league’s Global Markets Program.

Four of Detroit’s home opponents also have rights in Germany: the Buccaneers, Giants, Packers, and Patriots. 

Playing a road game in Germany could be particularly intriguing to each of those teams. However, Detroit may prefer not to have another team with competing German rights if it could choose.

Detroit’s other five home opponents in 2026 are the Bears, Jets, Saints, Titans, and Vikings. It’s possible that more NFL teams could acquire rights in Germany this offseason as the Global Markets Program expands.

NFL’s Germany Ties Grow

This will mark the NFL’s sixth regular-season game in Germany, since debuting in 2022.

Munich has previously hosted in 2022 and 2024, with a deal already in place to play another game in the city in 2028. Berlin hosted its first NFL game last year and has a deal to host in 2027 and 2029.

Frankfurt hosted two games in 2023, but no return has been confirmed.