It only seems as if every other NFL game is being played outside the country in recent years but the facts are that in 2026 only 9 of the 272 regular season games will be played internationally. Yes, it will be a record ninth international game in one season but it still is only three per cent of the entire schedule.
The league announced this week that the 49ers will host a game this December in Mexico City. The opponent will be determined when the full schedule is announced this spring.
The game this year will be the sixth regular season game played in Mexico City dating back to 2005 when the matchup between the 49ers and Cardinals drew the largest NFL regular season attendance at that time of 103,467. The Cardinals beat the 49ers that night 31-14 in a nationally televised game with Cards QB Josh McCown throwing for 385 yards and 2 TDs. (McCown now is the Vikings QB coach.)
Commissioner Goodell said at the Super Bowl earlier this month that the league’s plans are to have all 32 teams play one international game each season in the not-too-distant future.
“I think that’s an important mark for us to go for,” Goodell said. “Some of the greatest cities in the world are asking for a game. It is our ambition to be a global sport. We’re hearing from cities that want more American football. This is one of the things we are really focused on.”
Playing 16 games each year outside the U.S. is down the road but the international cities this year hosting games are as follows (London has three games):
- London, U.K.
- Madrid, Spain
- Melbourne, Australia
- Mexico City, Mexico
- Munich, Germany
- Paris, France
- Rio De Janeiro, Brazil
The NFL has come a long way from the 1950s when the league defined “international” as playing one preseason game every few years in Ottawa or Toronto, Canada.
