The National Football League announced its most extensive overseas schedule in league history, with the San Francisco 49ers set to participate in two international contests during the 2026 season.
San Francisco will kick off the NFL’s expanded global presence by facing division rival Los Angeles Rams in Melbourne, Australia on September 10. This Thursday night matchup, which will air on Netflix, marks the league’s inaugural game on Australian soil and will actually be played Friday morning local time. The 49ers will serve as the visiting team for this historic opener.
Later in the season, San Francisco will host the Minnesota Vikings in Mexico City on November 22 for a Sunday night game in Week 11. The Vikings previously made history with back-to-back international road games in Dublin and London during consecutive weeks last season.
This ambitious international expansion includes nine total games spanning eight venues across seven cities on four different continents – the largest overseas commitment the NFL has ever undertaken. League Commissioner Roger Goodell has expressed his vision of eventually reaching 16 international contests per season.
London will host three games at its traditional venues, with Jacksonville making franchise history by scheduling back-to-back home games overseas. The Jaguars will meet Philadelphia at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on October 11, followed by a divisional clash against Houston at Wembley Stadium on October 18. Washington will also call Tottenham home when they battle Indianapolis on October 4.
The league will break new ground in Paris during Week 7, as New Orleans takes on Pittsburgh on October 25. Munich will welcome its second NFL game when Detroit hosts New England on November 15.
Previously announced international matchups include Dallas hosting Baltimore in Rio De Janeiro on September 27 and Atlanta welcoming Cincinnati to Madrid on November 8.
