NFL extends global footprint with record nine international fixtures in 2026
The National Football League has released its 2026 schedule, confirming a record nine international games across four continents and seven countries, with the season kickoff in Australia necessitating a mid-week start.
The National Football League released its 2026 regular-season schedule on Thursday, marking a significant expansion of its international operations with a record nine games scheduled across four continents and seven countries. The announcement confirms that the season will commence in Melbourne, Australia, with the Los Angeles Rams hosting the San Francisco 49ers on Wednesday, 10 September 2026.
The decision to begin the season on a Wednesday represents a rare scheduling anomaly, last occurring in 2012 to accommodate the Democratic National Convention. The Melbourne fixture is set to kick off at 10:35 am local time, a timing that reflects the 14-hour time difference from New York and the 17-hour difference from the US West Coast. This adjustment allows the league to maintain its traditional broadcast windows in North America while capitalising on the growing market in Australia.
The opening weekend also features a rematch of Super Bowl LX, with defending champions the Seattle Seahawks hosting the New England Patriots on Thursday, 9 September. The NFL has highlighted the historical performance of defending champions in season openers, noting a 16-5 record since 2004, including the Philadelphia Eagles' victory over the Dallas Cowboys to start the 2025 season.
Beyond the Australian opener, the 2026 calendar includes a new broadcasting arrangement for the holiday slate. The Los Angeles Rams will host the Green Bay Packers in a Wednesday night game on Thanksgiving Eve, which will be broadcast on Netflix. This addition extends the holiday viewing window, offering further content before the primary Thanksgiving Day matches.
The regular season will continue with the Denver Broncos and Kansas City Chiefs opening the Monday Night Football slate on 14 September. The first Sunday Night Football matchup will see the New York Giants, under new head coach John Harbaugh, face the Dallas Cowboys. The schedule finalises a season that balances traditional domestic rivalries with an increasingly globalised footprint.
