Broadcasters confirm specific 2026 NFL matchups ahead of Thursday schedule release
NBC, Fox and CBS have identified key games including the Cowboys' international debut in Rio de Janeiro, though the full roster remains subject to official publication on 14 May.
The official 2026 NFL schedule is scheduled for release at 8 p.m. ET on Thursday, 14 May, but significant details regarding specific matchups have emerged through broadcaster announcements prior to the formal publication. This pre-release activity follows a historical pattern where television partners reveal featured games before the complete fixture list is made public by the league.
NBC has confirmed that the New York Giants will host the Dallas Cowboys for the season's first Sunday night game in Week 1. This announcement marks the beginning of a series of disclosures made by the league's broadcasting partners as they prepare their respective schedules for the upcoming season.
Fox has separately confirmed that the Dallas Cowboys will host the Philadelphia Eagles on Thanksgiving Day during Week 12. This fixture adds to the growing list of known games, suggesting that the league's commercial partners are moving quickly to secure their programming line-ups ahead of the official league-wide release.
In a significant expansion of the league's footprint, CBS has announced that the Dallas Cowboys are set to participate in the NFL's inaugural game in Rio de Janeiro during Week 3. This match is part of a record-setting slate of nine international games planned for the 2026 season, with the full international schedule expected to be detailed on Wednesday at 9 a.m. ET on Good Morning Football.
Despite the flow of information from broadcasters, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell clarified that he did not approve the final schedule until Tuesday afternoon. This timing suggests that the recent leaks and broadcaster confirmations occurred only after the Commissioner had granted final sign-off to the fixture list.
While the confirmed games provide a glimpse into the upcoming season, the absence of specific weeks in current reports, such as Week 7, does not indicate cancellations. Rather, these gaps reflect a lack of available information at this stage, with the comprehensive schedule remaining subject to the official Thursday release.
