The first NFL International Series game was organized way back in October 2007. The historic stadium in London, Wembley, was chosen to host the first-ever fixture of the International Series.
Honestly, it was a wild shot by the NFL to promote and play American football in Europe. However, the NFL’s gamble paid off as the inaugural game between the New York Giants and Miami Dolphins drew a massive crowd.
Now, the NFL hosts several fixtures under the umbrella of the International Series every year, and is aggressively expanding the footprint of American football across Europe and South America.
Recently, the NFL revealed its plans to expand the International Series in 2026. And here, we’ll see what changes are on the cards for the next NFL International Series in 2026.
But before I get to it, are you following this year’s NFL? The Patriots are leading the AFC East, and I’ve been following them from the very first matchday. Thanks to my high-speed and reliable connection,Xfinity Internet, I’ve streamed every single game of the Patriots on NFL+ like a breeze.
Anyway, let’s explore the changes made by the NFL in the International Series for 2026.
NFL International Series Expansion Plans
The NFL International Series has hosted 50 games so far. What started as an experiment to boost the NFL’s popularity has become essential for its existence now.
With millions of people from Europe and South America religiously following the sport, it’s evident that the International Series is going to have a massive impact on the NFL’s success.
Nonetheless, before I dive into explaining how the International Series is going to change next year, let’s have a look at its history first.
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History of The International Series
As I already mentioned, the International Series started on October 28th, 2007. The iconic soccer stadium Wembley was chosen to host the first-ever fixture of the International Series.
However, the International Series hasn’t limited itself to London only, as it has expanded to more grounds across Europe and South America. Only this year, the NFL’s International Series is organizing seven fixtures throughout Europe and South America.
Dublin and Madrid will be hosting their first-ever NFL fixtures, while the rest of the International Series matches will be played in Sao Paulo, London, and Berlin.
Of the seven fixtures, the NFL is organizing six of them, while one match is managed by the Jacksonville Jaguars. Also, it’s the only team in the NFL to have a multi-year deal to play at Wembley since 2013. From ticketing to logistics, Jaguars organize this fixture and also keep the profits.
The Future of The NFL’s International Series
According toThe Athletic, the NFL is planning to increase the number of fixtures under the International Series from seven international games in 2025 to nine in 2026. Though there is no official confirmation yet, eight games will be hosted by the league, while one will be organized by the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Here, keep in mind that under the 2023 NFL resolution, the International Series is allowed to hold a maximum of nine games outside U.S soil.
That said, Rio, Melbourne, and Mexico City have been finalized as the next destinations of the NFL International Series for 2026. While there are rumors about Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates being potential destinations next year, no official announcement has been made so far.
Also, for the first time since 2022, the International Series will be back in Mexico City. And, the NFL is also committed to playing a minimum of three games every season for the next five years at Maracana Stadium in Rio, Brazil, most recently between the Chiefs and Chargers.
Additionally, the NFL authorities have repeatedly mentioned their long-term plans of expanding the International Series to 16 fixtures per season. However, it remains a long shot as of now, simply because the NFL hasn’t developed such infrastructure and lacks the logistics to organize so many games outside the U.S.
Change in International Series – A Welcome Step
The idea of increasing the number of fixtures of the International Series from seven to nine is great for the NFL’s exposure, for sure. With new global destinations such as Australia and Spain, the NFL’s popularity will skyrocket.
However, it might not be a smooth sail, as the NFL has to arrange logistics and manage two more fixtures as compared to this year’s seven International Series matches. That said, if everything goes according to plan, the NFL might become one of the most-watched sports leagues with a genuine global audience in the next few years.