ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) — The Atlanta Falcons are heading overseas – again – in the upcoming NFL season.
On Tuesday, the National Football League announced the Dirty Birds will be one of the participating teams for the upcoming 2026 NFL Madrid game.
That game will be one of a record nine international games in 2026 across four continents, seven countries and eight stadiums, and will be played at the Bernabéu, home to Real Madrid C.F. as part of a multi-year partnership with the City of Madrid and Comunidad de Madrid.
“The passion for the NFL in Spain is at an all‑time high, and welcoming the Atlanta Falcons to Madrid for a regular‑season game is a historic moment for our growing fanbase,” said NFL country manager Rafa de los Santos, as reported by NFL.com. “I’m sure the Falcons will enjoy competing in such an iconic stadium as the Bernabéu, in one of the world’s great sporting capitals, Madrid, and that fans will once again experience firsthand the intensity, speed, and talent that make the NFL unique.”
“We are incredibly proud to be part of an NFL regular season game in Madrid at the iconic Bernabéu,” said Falcons president and CEO Greg Beadles. “Atlanta and Madrid are a fitting match as we will host two of Spain’s group stage matches in the upcoming FIFA World Cup at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. This opportunity reflects the continued global growth of both the NFL and the Atlanta Falcons, and we look forward to deepening our connection with our European community by hosting another sporting contest here at home and returning to Europe for the fourth time in six seasons.
The Falcons’ opponent, along with the game date and kickoff time, will be announced when the full 2026 NFL schedule is revealed this spring.
The Falcons are entering their 61st season in Atlanta with a new triumvirate of leaders: Matt Ryan as president of football, Ian Cunningham as general manager, and Kevin Stefanski as head coach.
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