American Football
NFL approves record 11 international games and teases UK-based Super Bowl
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NFL owners voted on Tuesday to increase the international slate to 10 games starting in 2027, the maximum allowed under the current Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).
Add the Jacksonville Jaguars' Wembley game on top of that, which sits outside the CBA limit, and next year could see a record 11 international games.Â
We look at what the NFL said about the increase in international games, including some exciting comments about the possibility of a Super Bowl on UK soil.
What the NFL said about international expansion
The NFL clearly wants to explore new markets as part of the expanded international slate.
Commissioner Roger Goodell previously told reporters, "I think our next step after Australia would be probably moving into Asia."
Earlier this week, on the Up & Adams show, NFL EVP Peter O'Reilly also talked up the possibility of a game in Asia, and even mentioned that Africa could be on the slate further down the road.
However, he also stressed the importance of committing to the countries that have already hosted games, telling reporters, "Our goal is to go back to those markets that we're establishing."
The NFL has previously hosted regular-season games in the UK, Ireland, Canada, Mexico, Germany, Spain and Brazil, and this year adds Australia and France to that list for the first time.
The increase in international games will mean countries like Ireland will be desperate to make a reappearance on the 2027 slate.
11 international games would be two more than the 2026 record of nine, but Commissioner Goodell doesn't want to stop here.
 "We would like to get to 16 games so everyone is playing one game a year internationally," he said.
A Super Bowl at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium?
After agreeing to the expanded international slate, NFL owners also voted to send Super Bowl LXIV to Nashville, Tennessee.
Talk then turned to the idea of hosting the banner event overseas, and O'Reilly left UK fans with a real nugget.
"I don't know if I can fully parse that in terms of feasibility versus likelihood, but if you're just talking feasibility, obviously, as we go to new stadiums around the world, we're getting a better sense of those buildings," he said.
"You have great buildings like Tottenham [Hotspur Stadium] that were built with the NFL in mind from Day 1."
Not a guarantee by any means, but UK fans will take it.
What else did NFL owners vote on?
Teams used to be able to protect two games on their schedule from being moved overseas.
That's gone now, with owners approving a resolution that removes the option, giving the league more flexibility to build out future international schedules.
The full 2026 NFL international schedule
NFL
All times are UK local unless stated otherwise.
Week 1: San Francisco 49ers vs. Los Angeles Rams (Melbourne)
- Date: Friday, September 11, 2026
- Kick-off (BST): 1.35am
- Kick-off (ET): 8.35pm (Thursday, September 10)
- Kick-off (PT): 5.35pm (Thursday, September 10)
- Kick-off (AEST): 10.35am
- Venue: Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), Melbourne, Australia
Visit this link for the full game preview.
Week 3: Baltimore Ravens vs. Dallas Cowboys (Rio de Janeiro)
- Date: Sunday, September 27, 2026
- Kick-off (BST): 9.25pm
- Kick-off (ET): 4.25pm
- Kick-off (PT): 1.25pm
- Kick-off (BRT): 5.25pm
- Venue: Maracanã Stadium, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Visit this link for the full game preview.
Week 4: Indianapolis Colts vs. Washington Commanders (London)
- Date: Sunday, October 4, 2026
- Kick-off (BST): 2.30pm
- Kick-off (ET): 9.30am
- Kick-off (PT): 6.30am
- Venue: Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London, UK
Visit this link for the full game preview.
Week 5: Philadelphia Eagles vs. Jacksonville Jaguars (London)
- Date: Sunday, October 11, 2026
- Kick-off (BST): 2.30pm
- Kick-off (ET): 9.30am
- Kick-off (PT): 6.30am
- Venue: Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London, UK
Visit this link for the full game preview.
Week 6: Houston Texans vs. Jacksonville Jaguars (London)
- Date: Sunday, October 18, 2026
- Kick-off (BST): 2.30pm
- Kick-off (ET): 9.30am
- Kick-off (PT): 6.30am
- Venue: Wembley Stadium, London, UK
Visit this link for the full game preview.
Week 7: Pittsburgh Steelers vs. New Orleans Saints (Paris)
- Date: Sunday, October 25, 2026
- Kick-off (GMT): 1.30pm
- Kick-off (ET): 9.30am
- Kick-off (PT): 6.30am
- Kick-off (CET): 2.30pm
- Venue: Stade de France, Paris, France
Visit this link for the full game preview.
Week 9: Cincinnati Bengals vs. Atlanta Falcons (Madrid)
- Date: Sunday, November 8, 2026
- Kick-off (GMT): 2.30pm
- Kick-off (ET): 9.30am
- Kick-off (PT): 6.30am
- Kick-off (CET): 3.30pm
- Venue: Bernabéu Stadium, Madrid, Spain
Visit this link for the full game preview.
Week 10: New England Patriots vs. Detroit Lions (Munich)
- Date: Sunday, November 15, 2026
- Kick-off (GMT): 2.30pm
- Kick-off (ET): 9.30am
- Kick-off (PT): 6.30am
- Kick-off (CET): 3.30pm
- Venue: FC Bayern Munich Stadium, Munich, Germany
Visit this link for the full game preview.
Week 11: Minnesota Vikings vs. San Francisco 49ers (Mexico City)
- Date: Sunday, November 22, 2026
- Kick-off (GMT): 1.20am (Monday, November 23)
- Kick-off (ET): 8.20pm
- Kick-off (PT): 5.20pm
- Kick-off (CST): 7.20pm
- Venue: Estadio Banorte, Mexico City, Mexico
