2026 NFL Schedule Release: Ranking the International Games

The 2026 NFL schedule release isn’t just a one-day affair. The complete schedule will be released on Thursday, May 14, but the league has teased fans throughout the week with a handful of game announcements. The NFL Wednesday announced its historic lineup of international games.

The announcement was historic because there will be nine regular-season games in 2026 played outside the United States — the most ever. The lineup includes the league’s first regular-season games in Australia and France. While the league has played games in Sao Paulo, Brazill the last two years, this season will be the league’s first game in Rio De Janeiro.

“It’s the ambition we have to be a global sport,” NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said at his Super Bowl LX press conference back in February. “But it’s also the demand we’re having. We’re hearing from cities that want to host these games and really want to get more American football.”

With nine international games scheduled for the 2026 season, Goodell said the eventual goal is to have 16 international games in one season — which would allow for all 32 teams to play one game outside the U.S.

“That’s an important mark to shoot for and I think we’re on our way.” Goodell said.

Scheduling these international games is tricky. Some teams understandably don’t want to deal with the logistics of playing overseas. There’s a school of thought that fans of American football who live overseas will be happy to see any teams live. Then again, the NFL would certainly want to put its best foot forward in these matchups.

So how did the league do with this lineup?

Ranking the best international games1. Pittsburgh Steelers vs. New Orleans Saints in Paris, France

(Week 7, Sunday, Oct. 25, 9:30 a.m. ET, NFL Network)

Sacre bleu! Maybe the league took my advice. Even though there had been reports this game was going to be the Cleveland Browns against the Saints, I argued last week that it had to be the Steelers. I understand we don’t know for sure yet that Aaron Rodgers will be the quarterback in Pittsburgh, but … he will be. Aaron Rodgers in Paris is romantic, n’est-ce pas? And against the team that plays its home games walking distance from the French Quarter? This is the perfect matchup for the first game in France.

(Week 10, Sunday, Nov. 15, 9”30 a.m. ET, NFL Network)

The NFL couldn’t get the Super Bowl champs for an international game this season, but getting the AFC champ Patriots is worthy. And while fans in Germany will be excited to see New England quarterback Drake Maye, they also get to see one of the NFL’s biggest stars in Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs.

(Week 1, Thursday, Sept. 10, 8:35 p.m. ET, Netflix)

The longest road trip in this lineup of games, the Rams and 49ers head down under for one of two division games in the international series. And considering these are two 2025 playoff teams chasing the NFC West and Super Bowl champ Seattle Seahawks, it’s a pretty important game for Week 1.

(Week 3, Sunday, Sept. 27, 4:25 p.m. CBS)

Can America’s Team become South America’s Team? The Cowboys have fans all over the world, and Rio is likely no exception. But Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson is probably the bigger star attraction here. And unless the Cowboys defense shows immediate improvement from last season, Jackson could put on a show.

5. Cincinnati Bengals vs. Atlanta Falcons in Madrid, Spain

(Week 9, Sunday, Nov. 8, 9:30 a.m. ET, NFL Network)

The NFL played its first game in Madrid last season, and it was supposed to feature 2024 Offensive Rookie of the Year Jayden Daniels. But Daniels was out with an injury, so the Spaniards instead got an ugly game between two struggling teams in the Washington Commanders and Miami Dolphins. Miami won in overtime, 16-13, but it wasn’t exactly a thriller. So this year, the NFL is dispatching superstars like Joe Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase, Bijan Robinson and Drake London to Madrid. Should be a lot more exciting than last year’s game.

(Week 5, Sunday, Oct. 11, 9:30 a.m. ET), NFL Network

7. Houston Texans vs. Jacksonville Jaguars in London, England

(Week 6, Sunday, Oct. 18, 9:30 a.m. ET)

We’ll lump these games together, because this will be the third time in the last four years that the Jaguars are playing back-to-back games in London, their home away from home. The Jaguars have played 14 games in London over the years. Trevor Lawrence must be one of the most popular NFL players in England. The Jags are coming off a 13-4 season, but these will be two tough games for the defending AFC South champs.

8. Minnesota Vikings vs. San Francisco 49ers in Mexico City, Mexico

(Week 11, Sunday, Nov. 22, 8:20 p.m. ET, NBC)

This is the NFL’s first game in Mexico City since 2022, and it was the 49ers who appeared in that game as well. They played the Arizona Cardinals in that matchup, but Cards QB Kyler Murray was out with an injury. San Francisco rookie Brock Purdy had three rushing attempts in that game, but he was still three weeks away from becoming the team’s starting QB. Four years later, we get Brock Purdy vs. Kyler Murray south of the border.

9. Indianapolis Colts vs. Washington Commanders in London, England

(Week 4, Sunday, 9:30 a.m. ET, NFL Network)

This is the first of three straight weeks of games in London, and you can bet the NFL has its fingers crossed that quarterbacks Jayden Daniels and Daniel Jones are both healthy for this one. If not, the fans might not be happy.

This story was originally published by Athlon Sports on May 13, 2026, where it first appeared in the NFL section. Add Athlon Sports as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

2026 NFL Schedule Release: Ranking the International Games

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