Iconic NFL Teams Set for International Games
The Dallas Cowboys and San Francisco 49ers, each with five Super Bowl victories, are set to expand the NFL's global reach by playing games in Brazil and Australia next season.
The NFL continues its efforts to engage sports fans worldwide, announcing its debut games at two renowned stadiums: Rio de Janeiro's Maracana and the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
During Super Bowl week, the league revealed that two of its most prominent franchises will participate in these international fixtures. The San Francisco 49ers, with many Super Bowl activities centered in their home city, will travel to Australia, generating excitement in San Francisco.
Shortly after, it was announced that the Dallas Cowboys, often referred to as 'America's Team,' will play in Brazil, marking the NFL's inaugural game in Rio de Janeiro.
"Introducing one of the league's most iconic teams to the Maracana Stadium marks a powerful milestone in the continued growth of the sport worldwide," said Luis Martinez, general manager of NFL Brazil.
The Cowboys' opponent and the exact date for their game remain unconfirmed. The 49ers are scheduled to face the Los Angeles Rams, with the match expected near the start of the season in September.
Expanding the NFL's Global Footprint
The NFL has expressed its ambition to become a "true global sport property," planning a record nine international games in 2026. These games will span four continents, seven countries, and eight stadiums.
Where the Super Bowl will be won and lost
Will Seahawks stop Patriots' record bid? Lowdown on Super Bowl 2026
What is the NFL's international plan?
The league's international presence has grown significantly over recent years. The number of international games increased from five in the 2024 season to seven in 2025, with nine scheduled for 2026.
This expansion includes new markets such as Brazil, Spain, and Ireland, with Australia and France joining the list in 2026. Mexico will also host games again.
Next season's international games will take place in London (three games), Madrid, Melbourne, Mexico City, Munich, Paris, and Rio de Janeiro.
"We're in several new markets, we're excited by that," said NFL commissioner Roger Goodell this week.
"It's the ambition that we have to be a global sport, but it's also the demand that we're having. We're hearing from cities all over the world that want to host these games and they really want to get more American football."
Goodell has also mentioned plans to explore opportunities in Asia, with Abu Dhabi among the cities visited to assess potential game locations.
This week, he reiterated his goal of hosting 16 international games each season, allowing every NFL team to play overseas once annually.
"I think that's an important mark for us to go for, and I think we're well on our way," Goodell added.
Mini Super Bowls & Christmas games - NFL's bid to become 'truly global'
Player Perspectives on International Games
To reduce travel strain, two West Coast teams were chosen for the NFL's first game in Australia. The Rams will face divisional rivals the 49ers, a matchup that promises to be competitive given both teams' recent Super Bowl appearances.
After being named this season's Most Valuable Player in San Francisco, Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford commented on the upcoming trip:
"It seems like a long flight, and I hope my back's not too sore afterwards, to be honest with you.
But I am excited about it, it's a really cool opportunity. Playing an unbelievable team like the 49ers is going to be a huge challenge. It's a fun rivalry so I think the fans in Australia are going to get a great game."
David White, interim executive director of the NFL Players' Association (NFLPA), acknowledged the players' appreciation for the global exposure but highlighted concerns about inconsistent travel experiences.
"Our members appreciate the global stage. They understand the excitement that the games are generating around the world.
But we've got a lot of feedback about not having good experiences because it's inconsistent. It's a seemingly arbitrary approach that clubs take to travel."
White explained that before the recent game at Wembley, the Jacksonville Jaguars arrived in London early in the week, whereas the Rams flew in the day before and returned immediately after their 35-7 victory.
"Some teams will stay near the practice site, some will have lengthy commutes for the players after that travel, when they're getting over jet lag," said White. "It depends which team they play for, so it's the lack of standardisation that feels arbitrary.
The game requires a certain amount of rest, preparation and restoration in order for players to be safe, so all of that needs to be accounted for if we're going to talk about [travelling] even further away or having more international games. That's a matter of negotiation."
The current Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) between the NFL and NFLPA permits up to 10 regular-season games overseas each season.
The Minnesota Vikings became the first team to play two international games in one season in 2025, competing in Dublin and London on consecutive Sundays. Linebacker Jonathan Greenard expressed reluctance to repeat back-to-back international games.
White noted that players provided positive feedback regarding how those games were managed.
"It is possible that 16 games worldwide gets to be too much, but that's for the players to decide once they have all the information.
We do have some sense of what makes a positive experience when travelling internationally, and we're collecting data.
It's about making sure that the players are at the centre of that debate."
Get American Football news sent straight to your phone
