2026 NFL schedule release: Predicting the matchup for every international game being played this season

Falcons in Madrid

Possible opponents:Panthers, Saints, Buccaneers, Bears, Lions, 49ers, Ravens, Bengals, Chiefs

Prediction: Bears or Chiefs

Three teams -- the Dolphins, Chiefs and Bears -- currently have marketing rights in Spain. The Dolphins went to Madrid last year for the NFL's first-ever game in Spain, and this year, it would be logical for the NFL to send one of the other teams with marketing rights. Fortunately for the league, Atlanta plays both the Chiefs and Bears at home this year, so it seems highly likely that one of those two teams will be sent to Madrid with the Falcons.

The favorite in the clubhouse is probably Kansas City. The Chiefs have made it clear to the NFL that they want to be the visiting team. "We've been very open and aggressive with the league -- as we have been since the beginning -- that we want to play in Spain this year," Chiefs president Mark Donovan said at the NFL's Annual League Meeting in March. "We think it would be a great market, game [and] matchup."

If the NFL sticks to the same plan as last year, this game will likely be played in early November.

Lions in Munich

**Possible opponents:**Bears, Packers, Vikings, Saints, Buccaneers, Giants, Patriots, Jets, Titans

Prediction: Giants or Buccaneers

There's a report that the Giants will play an international game this year, and this one would certainly make the most sense. The Giants hold marketing rights in Germany, so they would likely be on board if the NFL decides to send them to Munich. This one isn't a lock, but it would be a mild surprise if the Giants aren't the opponent.

The argument against the Giants is that they played in Germany in 2024, so the NFL might be interested in sending another team. If that's the case, then the Buccaneers could make sense. Tampa Bay played in the NFL's inaugural Germany game in 2022, but hasn't been back since.

Two teams you can eliminate are the Packers and Vikings. The Lions protected both of those games, according to the Detroit Free Press, which means they can't be moved overseas.

Jaguars in London for two games

Possible opponents: Texans, Colts, Titans, Browns, Steelers, Patriots, Commanders, Eagles

Prediction 1 (AFC): Browns or Titans | Prediction 2 (NFC): Eagles or Commanders

The Jaguars will head to London for two games. The twist is that they'll be the home team for both, marking the first time in NFL history a team has served as the home team in back-to-back international games.

This will mark the third time the Jaguars have played back-to-back games in London. On the two previous occasions, the NFL had Jacksonville face one AFC team and one NFC team, so it wouldn't be surprising if the league once again goes that route.

On the NFC side, there are only two options: the Eagles or Commanders. Although Washington is already set to host a game in London this year, the NFL could have the Commanders play back-to-back games there, with one as the home team and one as the visiting team. As for Philadelphia, the Eagles have only played two international games in franchise history, which is tied for the second-fewest in the league, so the NFL could send them abroad.

On the AFC side, let's start with the Titans. The NFL usually tries to avoid sending divisional games overseas, but it has happened before. As for the Browns, they've never played an international game as the visiting team, so this would break new ground.

One team that likely won't be sent to London is the Steelers because the Jaguars have protected that game, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

Commanders in London

**Possible opponents:**Cowboys, Eagles, Giants, Rams, Seahawks, Falcons, Texans, Colts, Bengals

Prediction: Bengals or Texans

There are only five teams that have not played an international game this decade, and the Bengals and Texans are on that list. Of the other three teams that haven't gone abroad since 2020 -- the Cowboys, Lions and Raiders -- we know at least two of them will be sent overseas this year (Dallas, Detroit), so it seems like the NFL is trying to distribute international appearances more fairly. If that's the case, then sending Cincinnati or Houston to London to face Washington would make sense. Neither team has played internationally since 2019.

If the NFL has a sense of humor, the league will definitely send the Bengals, mainly because this season marks the 10-year anniversary of the infamous 2016 London game between Cincinnati and Washington that ended in a tie.

The first (and only) tied International Series Game

@Redskins 27-27 @Bengals - @wembleystadium 🏟🇬🇧

What a game! Who was there?👇#FlashbackFriday pic.twitter.com/W1so3I2Ax9

— NFL UK & Ireland (@NFLUKIRE) May 24, 2019

If the Commanders end up playing the Bengals again, I'll definitely be rooting for another tie.

Saints in Paris

**Possible opponents:**Falcons, Buccaneers, Panthers, Packers, Vikings, Cardinals, Browns, Steelers, Raiders

Prediction: Browns or Raiders

A French media outlet has reported that the Browns will face the Saints in France. This is the same outlet that originally broke the news of the Paris game in January, so it's certainly possible Cleveland could be headed there. If the Browns do get sent, they could conceivably play the Jaguars in London one week and then the Saints in Paris the following week. The NFL did that with the Vikings last year -- sending them to Dublin and London in back-to-back weeks -- so it's certainly possible the league could do the same with Cleveland.

If the Browns don't go, then the Raiders could make sense. Las Vegas has played five international games in franchise history, which is tied for the fourth-most in the NFL. Mark Davis never turns down an opportunity to take the Raiders brand global. If the NFL asks, his team would likely be more than willing to take part in the league's first-ever game in France.

49ers in Mexico City

**Possible opponents:**Cardinals, Rams, Seahawks, Eagles, Commanders, Vikings, Broncos, Raiders, Dolphins

Prediction: Broncos or Dolphins

Of the six games the NFL has held in Mexico City since 2005, two have involved the 49ers facing the Cardinals, but it doesn't feel like the league will go that route again this year. With San Francisco already playing the Rams in Australia, it seems unlikely the NFL would want to move two divisional games overseas.

With the Cardinals likely out, it feels like the NFL will make this an NFC-AFC matchup, which has become popular for international games. If that's the case, the Dolphins or Broncos would make sense because both teams have marketing rights in Mexico.

The Raiders also have marketing rights in Mexico -- and have even played two games there -- but it would make more sense to keep that matchup at Levi's Stadium since Las Vegas still has plenty of fans in the Bay Area thanks to the franchise's long run in Oakland.