NFL 2026 Schedule Release: Australia Clash, Record International Games And Seahawks Opener Confirmed

53

While football fans in England remain locked into the Premier League season, attention in the United States is slowly shifting toward the 2026 NFL campaign. The league has officially confirmed that the full NFL 2026 schedule will be released on May 14 at 8 p.m. ET, putting an end to speculation about a possible delay.

Before the complete schedule drops, the NFL will reveal a few matchups through its broadcast partners during the network upfronts running from May 11 to May 13. The international slate will also be announced a day early, with all nine international games set to be unveiled on May 13 during “Good Morning Football.” The full 272-game schedule will then air on NFL Network and ESPN2 on May 14.

What we Know About The NFL 2026 Schedule so Far

The NFL has already locked in two matchups for the opening week of the 2026 season. The Seattle Seahawks will host the season opener on Wednesday, Sept. 9 at 8:20 p.m. ET on NBC, marking only the second time in the past 75 years that the NFL season begins on a Wednesday. Seattle’s opponent is still to be confirmed, though teams like the Cardinals, Cowboys, Giants, Bears, Chargers and Patriots remain possible options. Kansas City is unlikely, especially with uncertainty around Patrick Mahomes’ availability for the opener.

The second confirmed game will see the San Francisco 49ers face the Los Angeles Rams in Australia on Sept. 10. While it will air at 8:35 p.m. ET in the United States on Netflix, the game will actually kick off on Friday morning in Melbourne because of the 14-hour time difference. The Melbourne Cricket Ground is set to host the NFL’s first-ever game in Australia, with the matchup expected to stream worldwide on Netflix.

More International Games Locked Into NFL 2026 Schedule

The NFL is set to stage a record nine international games during the 2026 season. So far, only one full matchup has been confirmed, the Los Angeles Rams taking on the San Francisco 49ers in Melbourne. The remaining host teams include the Cowboys in Rio de Janeiro, Saints in Paris, 49ers in Mexico City, Jaguars and Commanders in London, Lions in Munich and Falcons in Madrid.

Several reports have already linked possible opponents to those games. The Saints are expected to host the Browns in Paris around Week 7, while NBC Sports Bay Area reported that the Dolphins could face the 49ers in Mexico City during Week 11. In Madrid, the Chiefs are reportedly pushing to face the Falcons, although the NFL has not confirmed the matchup yet. There is also speculation around the Giants playing overseas this season, potentially in London or Munich.

The London schedule is again expected to run across consecutive weeks in October. Jacksonville will also make history by becoming the first NFL team to play back-to-back international games as the designated home side.