NFL Sets 2026 International Hosts, Two Months Before Schedule Release

More than two months before the NFL releases the full 2026 regular-season schedule in mid-May, all host teams for the league’s record nine-game international slate have already been set.

The NFL announced Tuesday that the Falcons will be the designated home team for this season’s game in Madrid—the league’s second ever in Spain after the country’s NFL debut in 2025.

That completes the international host team lineup for 2026 (listed below in alphabetical order by city):

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

The Jaguars, for the third time, are playing consecutive games in London, but for the first time, giving up two home games in Jacksonville (while their home stadium undergoes a $1.4 billion revamp) to do so, which is also a league-wide first.

The 49ers will host the NFL’s first game in Mexico since 2022 and play as the designated away team against the Rams in Australia—becoming the third NFL franchise to play multiple games abroad in one season (the Jaguars and Vikings are the other two).

Melbourne, Paris, and Rio de Janeiro are making their respective NFL debuts in 2026.

Consolation Prize for Falcons

Playing in Madrid, however, was not the Falcons’ first choice.

Atlanta CEO Greg Beadles last month told Front Office Sports the team made a request to the NFL to play in Munich. But the Lions will host that game—the NFL’s third in the city and sixth in Germany.

Germany is the most popular country in the NFL’s global markets program, with 11 franchises holding German rights: the Buccaneers, Chiefs, Colts, Falcons, Giants, Lions, Packers,  Panthers, Patriots, Seahawks, and Steelers. Tampa Bay, Kansas City, New England, Carolina, and Indianapolis have hosted games in Germany.

The U.K. has the second-most teams with nine. The Falcons only have rights in Germany. Three teams have rights in Spain: the Bears, Chiefs, and Dolphins.