The NFL International Games series is a massive initiative designed to expand the league’s global reach and build a new, overseas fanbase. This year will feature a record nine international games during the 2026-27 NFL regular season with three in London and two with new hosts: Paris, France and Melbourne, Australia.
Some of these games kick off at unusual times for an NFL matchup. To make sure you don’t miss a single game — or, for our fantasy football fanatics out there, forget to check your team’s lineup — we’ve put together this complete guide to watching all of the NFL’s International games in 2026.
This year’s slate features playoff hopefuls and teams starting new chapters and DIRECTV is your place to watch it all. Sign up today to start watching!
How to Watch the 2026 NFL International Games
Here’s how to watch NFL games being held overseas in 2026.
United States Viewers
CBS (Brazil) – Find your local listings
FOX (Germany) – Find your local listings
NBC (Mexico) – Find your local listings
Netflix (Melbourne) – Connect your DIRECTV account
NFL Network Games (All Others)
For DIRECTV customers, NFL Network can be found at Channel 212.
2026 NFL International Games Schedule
The 2026 NFL Season will feature a new record nine international regular-season games, and the series starts right off the bat in Week 1 in Melbourne, the farthest game from the US ever played.
Week 1: Melbourne
San Francisco 49ers vs. Los Angeles Rams
- Date & Time: Thursday, September 10, 2026 – 8:35 p.m. ET
- Location: Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne, Australia
- TV/Streaming: Netflix
What to watch for
This marks the NFL’s first-ever regular season game at the MCG. The Los Angeles Rams have pushed all their chips into the center with the acquisitions of Myles Garrett and Trent McDuffie and the re-signing of reigning MVP, Matthew Stafford. Meanwhile, the 49ers are trying not to be overshadowed within their own division.
Week 4: Brazil
Baltimore Ravens vs. Dallas Cowboys
- Date & Time: Sunday, September 27, 2026 — 4:25 p.m. ET
- Location: Maracanã Stadium, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- TV/Streaming: CBS
What to watch for
This is the third regular-season game hosted in Brazil overall and the first ever played in Rio. The two teams enter this matchup fresh off lowly 2025 seasons by their standards on the Maracanã pitch.
Week 5: London
Indianapolis Colts vs. Washington Commanders
- Date & Time: Sunday, October 4, 2026 – 9:30 a.m. ET
- Location: Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London, England
- TV/Streaming: NFL Network
What to watch for
The first of three straight London games this season, two teams cross the pond looking for answers. The Colts could be starting anyone at quarterback and the Commanders are hoping Jayden Daniels can put together a full season after investing heavily in the offense in the offseason.
Week 6: London
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
- Date & Time: Sunday, October 11, 2026 – 9:30 a.m. ET
- Location: Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London, England
- TV/Streaming: NFL Network
What to watch for
There is no team more familiar with international travel than the Jaguars. After a sensational end to the season, Trevor Lawrence looks ready for a much-promised breakout season. On the other side, the Eagles defended their title in disappointing fashion and now start a new chapter without wideout A.J. Brown.
Week 7: London
Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Houston Texans
- Date & Time: Sunday, October 18, 2026 – 9:30 a.m. ET
- Location: Wembley Stadium, London, England
- TV/Streaming: NFL Network
What to watch for
These division rivals travel all the way to the UK for a matchup that could have massive playoff implications down the line, with the Jags making their second trip to the U.K. of the season.
Week 8: Paris
Pittsburgh Steelers vs. New Orleans Saints
- Date & Time: Sunday, October 25, 2026 – 9:30 a.m. ET
- Location: Stade de France, Paris, France
- TV/Streaming: NFL Network
What to watch for
The first-ever regular season NFL game played in France naturally features the Saints, who finished 2025 winning four of their last five games and will be one of the most overlooked teams in 2026. The Steelers meanwhile are entering the post-Mike Tomlin era with a buffed up wide receiving core around Aaron Rodgers and a prayer.
Week 10: Madrid
Cincinnati Bengals vs. Atlanta Falcons
- Date & Time: Sunday, November 8, 2026 – 9:30 a.m. ET
- Location: Bernabéu Stadium, Madrid, Spain
- TV/Streaming: NFL Network
What to watch for
The NFL Madrid game returns to the iconic Bernabéu for a second consecutive year. This year it features a Bengals team that is looking to break a three-year playoff drought and a Falcons hoping to break an eight-year drought under new coach Kevin Stefanski.
Week 11: Munich
New England Patriots vs. Detroit Lions
- Date & Time: Sunday, November 15, 2026 – 9:30 a.m. ET
- Location: FC Bayern Munich Arena, Munich, Germany
- TV/Streaming: FOX
What to watch for
Football returns to Germany for the sixth time with a matchup between two Super Bowl hopefuls. The Patriots are looking to prove that last year’s playoff run was no fluke while the Lions are hoping to show that missing the playoffs last season was a fluke.
Week 12: Mexico City
Minnesota Vikings vs. San Francisco 49ers
- Date & Time: Sunday, November 22, 2026 – 8:20 p.m. ET
- Location: Estadio Banorte, Mexico City, Mexico
- TV/Streaming: NBC
What to watch for
The NFL’s international slate wraps up with the league’s first return to Mexico City since 2022. The Vikings and 49ers are both looking at uphill battles within their own division so this game will likely carry playoff implications well before week 18.
What Makes 2026’s NFL International Games Special
This season represents several significant milestones:
- Most International Games Ever: Nine games surpass the previous record.
- New Hosts: Melbourne and Paris host their first regular-season games.
- Iconic Venues: The Melbourne Cricket Ground, Wembley Stadium and Stade de France will all host games this season.
When Did the NFL Start Doing International Games?
The NFL International Game series started as a single game at London’s Wembley Stadium in 2007, but evolved into a cornerstone of both the NFL’s international strategy and the regular season calendar. Since then, the series has expanded from London to include games in Mexico City, Germany, Brazil, Ireland, Spain, Australia and France.
The International Series has transformed into a regular season showcase that attracts millions of viewers worldwide. London has hosted the most international games with 36 regular-season contests, while the Jacksonville Jaguars have become the unofficial “London team,” playing there annually since 2013.
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