ANN ARBOR, Mich. – The University of Michigan announced Wednesday that its 2026 football season opener against Western Michigan will be played at Michigan Stadium in Ann Arbor on September 5, 2026. The decision comes after exploring the possibility of playing the game internationally in frankfurt, germany, on August 29th.
“We did a thorough and exhaustive evaluation in relation to playing an international game,” said Warde Manuel, the Donald R. Shepherd Director of Athletics. “Based on the analysis of all the factors, we felt it was best to keep the game in Ann Arbor as it was originally scheduled for the 2026 season.”
Discussions had been underway to host the Western Michigan game at Deutsche Bank park in Frankfurt, Hesse, Germany. the stadium, also known as Waldstadion, is the home field of Eintracht Frankfurt, a team in the Bundesliga, Germany’s top professional soccer league.
Manuel expressed gratitude to Eintracht Frankfurt and their stadium management for their collaborative efforts. “I want to thank Eintracht Frankfurt and their stadium management company for all the work that thay did in partnership with our staff to try to make this game a possibility.”
Despite canceling the 2026 game in Germany, the athletic department remains open to future international opportunities. “We have fans and alumni around the globe, and many have expressed excitement about attending a game on foreign soil. We remain open to exploring the right opportunities for our teams to play internationally,” Manuel added.
