NFL International Push Accelerates As 2026 Schedule Signals More Overseas Expansion

The NFL released its 2026 schedule with a decided emphasis on providing more quality matchups in prime time windows and standalone international windows than ever before in the eyes of many general managers.

The league’s lust for more profits and new broadcast deals has it leaning into the drama and subplots of potential matchups more than ever before, and it would be shocking if the owners did not vote to rubber-stamp more of the same during their meetings in Orlando this week. 

A vote is scheduled to increase the number of international games from nine to 11, and it would be shocking if that did not go through.

“It’s up for a vote because they already know it’s going to happen,” said one general manager who believes the push abroad has gone far enough but knows the owners fully support it.

How Far Can the International Calendar Be Expanded?

The real question is, where does it end? The league wants an 18-game season with two bye weeks, and if/when that occurs, there is an expectation that international games could essentially take place for 13 weeks or more of that schedule. 

Kicking off in Australia or Brazil or wherever isn’t going away, the league believes Mexico remains ripe for more games and European expansion beyond England, and Germany is seen as a fait accompli to many football people.

“I would think they’d stop at 14 or 15 weeks (playing abroad), but that’s just an assumption on my part based on the conversations I’ve been privy to and applying some common sense,” said one longtime high-ranking NFL team official who has been involved in discussions about this topic with an owner who is quite involved in the ongoing expansion.”

Owners are increasingly allowing the league to put more of their inventory, and even prime inventory, overseas as the league office continues to lower the number of home games they can protect and essentially keep in their stadiums.  The push for globalism in the sport is a primary objective for Commissioner Roger Goodell, with the NFL sacrificing competitive balance for regular-season international travel in a way no other league would consider.