Chiefs shut out of NFL’s international slate

TL;DR

The Kansas City Chiefs will not participate in any of the NFL's 2026 international games, as confirmed by recent developments. Their schedule includes only one confirmed game, against the Denver Broncos on 'Monday Night Football.'

Key points

Chiefs confirmed for only one game in 2026 season.
No international games scheduled for the Chiefs.
First international game features 49ers vs Rams in Australia.

Kansas City ChiefsDenver BroncosSan Francisco 49ersLos Angeles Rams

Nov 5, 2023; Frankfurt, Germany, ; fans watch during an NFL International Series game between the Miami Dolphins and Kansas City Chiefs in the third quarter at Deutsche Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images So far, we have only one of the Kansas City Chiefs’ 17 regular-season contests confirmed ahead of the NFL’s schedule reveal on Thursday night. We know that Kansas City will host the Denver Broncos to open the season on “Monday Night Football.” Further developments on Tuesday, however, confirmed by default that the Chiefs will not play in any of the league’s 2026 international games. This season, the league has nine international matchups scheduled. The first game of the season will be between the San Francisco 49ers and the Los Angeles Rams in Melbourne, Australia. Because the Chiefs have the Rams scheduled as a road opponent, the Australia showcase was the first international possibility to be eliminated for the Chiefs. The next game to be confirmed was the Dallas Cowboys against the in Week 3 from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Neither team is on the Chiefs’ 2026 schedule. Other hosting teams not on the Chiefs’ schedule include the and , with games in London; the , as the home team, in Munich, Germany; and the , set to play in Paris, France. The 49ers will also play at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City, Mexico, as the home team. The Chiefs seemingly cannot be the opponent because is slated to visit Arrowhead Stadium sometime in the 2026 campaign. The most likely international opportunity for the Chiefs was always the , a scheduled road opponent, hosting a game in Madrid, Spain, during Week 9. However, the league on Tuesday announced that the would face Atlanta in the Spanish capital. *With the international slots seemingly off the table for the Chiefs, how do you feel? Do you enjoy an early morning Chiefs game from Europe? How do you feel about the non-traditional start times in the Southern Hemisphere? Let us know in the comments.*

Q&A

Why are the Kansas City Chiefs not playing in the NFL's international games in 2026?

The Chiefs are not scheduled to face any of the teams participating in the NFL's international games for the 2026 season.

What teams are playing in the NFL's international games in 2026?

Teams confirmed for the international games include the San Francisco 49ers, Los Angeles Rams, Dallas Cowboys, Baltimore Ravens, and others, but none are scheduled against the Chiefs.

When will the Kansas City Chiefs host the Denver Broncos?

The Kansas City Chiefs will host the Denver Broncos on 'Monday Night Football' to open the 2026 NFL season.