The Detroit Lions will play a regular season National Football League (NFL) game in Munich, Germany, in 2026, the team announced Tuesday.
The game marks the first international contest scheduled for the Lions in the NFL’s ongoing effort to expand its global reach. While the opponent and specific date remain undetermined, the contest will be played as part of the league’s international series.
The NFL has been playing regular season games in London since 2007 and began holding games in Mexico City in 2016. Munich hosted its first NFL game in November 2022, featuring the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Seattle Seahawks. A second game was played in Frankfurt in November 2023.
This commitment to a game in Munich represents a continuation of the NFL’s strategy to cultivate international fan bases and tap into new markets. The Detroit Lions were one of several teams vying to host a game abroad, according to reports.
The Detroit Free Press reported that the NFL is aiming to have at least eight international games per year by 2028. The league has not yet announced how teams will be selected to participate in future international series games.
