While the 2026 NFL schedule won’t be released until later this month, it sounds like the Pittsburgh Steelers won’t have to play an international game this season.
Outside of a road trip against the New Orleans Saints, who will host a 2026 game in Paris, one of the few remaining possibilities on the schedule for an international game that wasn’t known yet was the road game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, which could be played in London. But according to the Post-Gazette’s Gerry Dulac, the Jaguars are intent on keeping the game in Jacksonville.
“According to multiple sources, the Jaguars ‘protected’ their home game against the Steelers, meaning it will likely be played in Jacksonville and not in the capital of England,” Dulac wrote.
The Jaguars are scheduled to play two games in London in 2026. With the Steelers having the Jaguars on their schedule as a road opponent this season, the odds increased that Pittsburgh could be one in of those matchups.
But with Jacksonville renovating EverBank Stadium, which will reduce seating capacity this season, the Jaguars seemingly opted to keep a premium matchup in Florida.
“They don’t want to give up a game against the Steelers because they know it is guaranteed to be a sellout, based on the way Steelers fans gobble up seats in opposing stadiums,” Dulac wrote.
Last season the Steelers played an international game in Dublin, Ireland, where they hosted the Minnesota Vikings and won that matchup, 24-21. As the host team, Pittsburgh put on quite a show, bringing the first regular-season NFL game to Croke Park in Dublin.
It was a taxing trip though, and it always seemed unlikely the NFL would send Pittsburgh back overseas in 2026. Based on Dulac’s reporting, that won’t happen for its matchup against the Jaguars.
The Paris game against the Saints remains a possibility. We’ll have to see who that matchup is for New Orleans as some speculation has swirled about the Cleveland Browns playing in that game.
For now, Pittsburgh appears safe from a trip to London to take on the Jaguars.
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