Ranking every 2026 NFL International Series matchup
By Andy Davies
The 2026 NFL International Series matchups have been announced, as the league now knows the schedule from Week One all the way to Week 18.
A day before the full schedule was released, the NFL announced its matchups for the games that are to be hosting international games in 2026, with a record breaking nine.
The NFL returns to London for the 19th season in the last 20, whilst Rio de Janeiro, Paris and Melbourne are all set to sample their first taste of a live NFL game this year.
Germany’s continued love affair with the NFL continue, hosting a game for the fifth straight year and the third time in Munich, whilst Mexico City once again hosts after a four-season absence.
But which matchups is the best? Here is a ranking of the games, from best to worst.
San Francisco 49ers vs Los Angeles Rams (Melbourne)
This is the standout fixture.
The NFL is making history, marking the first time that a game is to be played in Australia. In addition, the NFL has moved its season opener to a Wednesday night to accommodate the game in Melbourne.
Kicking off at 10:35am local time, this Week One NFC West division clash could very easily be an NFC Championship preview.
The Los Angeles Rams are rightly, the bookies favourite to win the Super Bowl in 2026. Provided they keep everyone healthy, the San Francisco 49ers could be knocking on that NFC Championship door.
It was a fantastic achievement for the 49ers to make the Divisional Round considering they were one of the most injury hit teams in the NFL in 2025. These weren’t just rotational players either, with star players such as Fred Warner and Nick Bosa suffering season ending injuries.
Quarterback Brock Purdy and tight end George Kittle also spent time on the sidelines and the team had 10 players go on Injury Reserve.
In Week One, the team will hope to have these players on the field at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, along with fellow running back Christian McCaffrey, an MVP nominee in 2025
In a game full of stars, the Rams also possess the likes of Puka Nacua, Kyren Williams, Davante Adams and Jared Verse on the field, along with reigning recipient of the Most Valuable Player (MVP) award, quarterback Matthew Stafford.
This is a game that could have major implications for who makes Super Bowl 61, not something that can be said for any of the other International Series matchups in 2026.
Dallas Cowboys vs Baltimore Ravens (Rio de Janero)
The Dallas Cowboys return to the International Series scene for the first time since 2014, as they face the Baltimore Ravens in Rio de Janeiro’s first ever NFL game.
Against the Ravens, this is a mouthwatering matchup. Whether this is quarterback Dak Prescott, wide receivers CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens, or exciting rookie safety Caleb Downs, America’s Team will come to South America with widespread media attention.
Meanwhile, the Ravens have an exciting duo of running back Derrick Henry and two-time MVP in quarterback Lamar Jackson, along with a fresh voice on the sidelines in new head coach Jesse Minter.
Two exciting offenses meet, with two defenses that could see major improvement in 2026, it is hard to see this game not being an end-to-end thriller.
Atlanta Falcons vs Cincinnati Bengals (Madrid)
Madrid hosted it’s first ever NFL game last season, as the Miami Dolphins beat the Washington Commanders in overtime. They are now returning for a second year and have been treated with a brilliant game filled with excellent offensive talent.
Last season’s matchup was hindered by an injury to Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels, that saw backup Marcus Mariota face off against a struggling Tua Tagovailoa. With the injury history of Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow, there is always that risk of history repeating itself and Jake Browning being the starter at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium.
However, if Burrow can stay fit, then he will likely be the main attraction in the Spanish capital in November. Being able to throw to wide receiver and former LSU teammate Ja’Marr Chase will excited the Spanish crowd, whether they are seasoned fans or newbies trying to get into the sport. With running back Chase Brown coming off a career year and WR2 Tee Higgins, this is a Bengals team that is electric on offense. They have attempted to address their defensive issues, despite the loss of Trey Hendrickson, with Jonathan Allen, Bryan Cook and Jonathan Allen arriving in Free Agency along with taking defensive end Cashius Howell in the second round.
Detroit Lions vs New England Patriots (Munich)
Munich will once again host an NFL game, with the Detroit Lions and New England Patriots facing off at Bayern Munich’s Allianz Arena.
New England have already grown quite the following in Germany, whether this be down to former player Sebastian Vollmer or the excellence on the field with Tom Brady.
Deutchsland native Vollmer is not the only German speaker to either played for or have played in the NFL, with Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown the main attraction of the game.
St. Brown is one of the best wide receivers in the NFL, and will relish the chance to play in his mother’s native country, someone who helped him learn German.
Not only are the German crowd being treated to one of the best wide recivers in the league, along with one of the best running backs in Jahmyr Gibbs, they will also be welcoming the reigning AFC Champions in the Patriots.
The atmosphere at German games has earned rave reviews, and with the last two games played in the country having gone to overtime, this should be quite the spectacle.
Jacksonville Jaguars vs Philadelphia Eagles (London)
Whilst Munich will be getting the team who reached the Super Bowl last season, the London crowd will be getting the team who went a step further a year before and lifted the Lombardi Trophy.
Provided they stay healthy. Saquon Barkley, Jalen Hurts, Devonta Smith, Jalen Carter, Quinyon Mitchell, Zack Baun and Cooper DeJean will all be suiting up at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium with only one aim, making their third Super Bowl in five seasons.
This is a team that has reached the playoffs in all but one of the last nine seasons and will likely be appearing in the postseason once again in the 2026 campaign.
Meanwhile, this is once again a home game in London for the Jacksonville Jaguars, their first of two games in the UK in 2026. This is a team that suffered an agonising loss in the Wildcard Round to the Buffalo Bills last season and will be wondering ‘What If’.
Jarrion Jones will be eager for revenge after he was the victim if Saquon’s backward hurdle leap over him in the 2024 season, that was later used on the Madden 26 cover. Having the best run defense in the league last season, they will feel confident of shutting Barkley down in London.
This is the Eagles’ first trip to London since 2018 and the UK fans will be treated to one of the league’s best teams, as well as their iconic ‘Tush Push’ play, facing off against an exciting Jags team lead by the newest offensive guru Liam Coen.
San Francisco 49ers vs Minnesota Vikings (Mexico City)
The status of the Mexico City all hangs in the balance of the San Francisco roster staying healthy. Should we get a full strength Niners team, then up against the likes of Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, Dallas Turner and Byron Murphy, the city could be set for quite the matchup.
It is unclear whether JJ McCarthy or Kyler Murray will suit up as the starting quarterback by the time this clash takes place on November 22nd, but with the weapons available, this is enough to excite the crowd whoever is QB1.
If the Niners stay healthy, they probably win this game, but a few stars missing could open this game up.
Head coaches Kevin O’Connell and Kyle Shanahan are some of the best in the game right now and with defensive coordinators in Brian Flores and Kyle Shanahan on the sidelines, this could be quite the coaching battle.
New Orleans Saints vs Pittsburgh Steelers (Paris)
Paris welcomes the New Orleans Saints and Pittsburgh Steelers to the French capital, and this could be quite the atmosphere.
The recent news of Aaron Rodgers returning to Pittsburgh sets up an intriguing quarterback matchup, as the four-time MVP faces off with the Saints’ Tyler Shough, a Rookie of the Year contender in 2025.
It will also be a brilliant event for culture, as “The Paris of Appalachia” goes up against a team from a city with a huge French history.
New Orleans was founded in 1718 by French explorer Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne de Bienville and the city has stuck to it’s French roots ever since.
Nothing defines this more than one of the city’s most iconic tourist spots, the French quarter. By result of this connection, there is a growing fanbase of the team in the country and they were the perfect team to host this game. It will also allow British and Irish fans to have the short trip over to see Saints kicker and Mayobridge native Charlie Smyth in action.
Jacksonville Jaguars vs Houston Texans (London)
The 2026 London Games will see two of just three International Series matchups in history to be repeated in the same city.
In 2019, a year after the Jags took on the Eagles, they played the Houston Texans and they face off once again in 2026 for an AFC South division battle.
The fate of the division may well rest on this game. After his struggled in the playoffs last season, Texans quarterback CJ Stroud will want to have a bounce back year in 2026. If he can play half as well as Deshaun Watson did in that 2019 game in London, they will have a great chance to win this game.
A brilliant Texans defensive unit led by head coach DeMeco Ryans against a Jaguars team who excelled on that side of the ball in 2025, this has the potential of a low scoring affair, one for the defense fanatics.
Washington Commanders vs Indianapolis Colts (London)
The status of this matchup all depends on what version of these teams we get.
If the London crowd gets the 2024 Washington Commanders against the Indianapolis Colts team in the first half of last season, then this could be a matchup for the ages. However, if it is the 2025 version of Washington or the second half of the season version of Indy, then this could be a slog.
Sometimes the games between two bad teams can be exciting, which makes this game still very compelling, but it will need the likes of Jonathan Taylor, Terry McLaurin, Cam Bynum and Daron Payne to step up.
ANDY DAVIES
NFL ANALYST
ANDY IS A SPORTS JOURNALISM GRADUATE WITH OVER SIX YEARS EXPERIENCE OF NFL WRITING AND PODCASTING. ANDY HAS BEEN TO EVERY NFL STADIUM AND IS THE HOST OF THE ACROSS THE POD PODCAST. HE HAS PRESS PASS EXPERIENCE AT THE LONDON GAMES AND MANY OTHER NFL BASED EVENTS SUCH AS SUPER BOWL LIX AND LX, HAVING INTERVIEWED THE LIKES OF AARON RODGERS, JUSTIN JEFFERSON, JASON BELL, OSI UMENYIORA, PATRICK MAHOMES, TRAVIS KELCE, DERRICK HENRY, SAQUON BARKLEY AND JALEN HURTS