The essentials
NFL confirms three inaugural 2026 international venues: Melbourne, Rio de Janeiro, and Paris.
The NFL has revealed specific matchups and locations for three of its record nine international games planned for the 2026 season. The San Francisco 49ers and Los Angeles Rams will play in Melbourne, Australia, bringing NFL football to the Southern Hemisphere for the first time in this format.
In South America, the Baltimore Ravens and Dallas Cowboys are scheduled for Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, marking another inaugural destination for the league. Meanwhile, New Orleans Saints will compete in Paris, France, expanding the NFL's European footprint.
These three games represent distinct geographic expansion, with venues spanning three continents and introducing professional football to new markets. The selections reflect the NFL's strategic approach to growing its international presence while selecting major metropolitan areas with demonstrated sports engagement and infrastructure capacity.
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NFL targets three new markets to grow international fanbase
The selection of Melbourne, Rio de Janeiro, and Paris strategically targets major cities with significant sports infrastructure and engaged audiences. Each venue represents a new market entry point for the NFL, allowing the league to assess fan interest and commercial viability in distinct regions. These locations offer established stadium facilities and demonstrated capacity for hosting major sporting events.
Three-continent approach marks NFL's accelerated global expansion
By placing games in Australia, Brazil, and France, the NFL distributes its international presence across diverse regions and time zones. This geographic diversity maximizes media coverage windows and reaches audiences across multiple continents simultaneously. The staggered locations reflect the league's comprehensive strategy to establish football as a genuinely global sport rather than concentrating growth in a single region.