What was long rumored has now been confirmed: The Detroit Lions will play an international game in 2026, a source told The Detroit News on Wednesday.
The Lions haven’t played outside of the United States since 2015, when they lost to the Kansas City Chiefs in London. They had a scheduled game in London against the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2020, but that contest was ultimately played in the U.S. due to the COVID-19 Pandemic.
So far, the NFL has announced four countries for international games in 2026: Germany (Munich), Australia (Melbourne), Brazil (Rio De Janeiro) and England (London). Additional locations will be announced later. In 2025, NFL games were played in Brazil, England, Germany, Ireland and Spain.
Speaking with reporters at the NFL’s annual owners meeting in April, Lions president Rod Wood said he felt it was “highly likely” the Lions would have to play an international game in 2026. The team has international marketing rights in five countries: Canada, Germany, Brazil, Austria and Switzerland.
“I would think that one of those nine (home games) could be an international game. I’ve talked to the league a little bit about it,” Wood said. “We’re certainly overdue, and with the markets that we’ve now taken some marketing interest in, certainly, playing in Germany with (receiver Amon-Ra) St. Brown would be an interesting thing to think about.”
Currently on the Lions’ home schedule for next season are the Chicago Bears, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, New York Jets, New England Patriots and New Orleans Saints, as well as one team apiece from the AFC South and NFC East.
rsilva@detroitnews.com
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