Detroit Lions to Play International Game in 2026 NFL Season

Detroit, MI — The Detroit Lions will return to the global stage in 2026, officially announcing Tuesday that they will face an opponent at FC Bayern Munich Stadium in Munich, Germany. The contest fulfills the league’s requirement that every franchise surrender one home date every eight seasons for international play; the Lions’ last overseas appearance came on Nov. 1, 2015, at London’s Wembley Stadium.

This will mark Detroit’s second regular-season game outside the United States, following a 2014 Wembley matchup against the Atlanta Falcons. It will also be the franchise’s first international tilt under head coach Dan Campbell.

“We are thrilled to be playing internationally and specifically in Munich for the 2026 season,” team president Rod Wood said in a release. “As an organization, we have invested greatly in the German market and are excited to play in front of our passionate German fans.”

The Lions secured international marketing rights covering Germany, Austria and Switzerland in 2024 and have since deepened roots across the region. Wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown, whose mother Miriam is from nearby Cologne, hosted a youth football camp in Germany last offseason and has become one of the country’s most recognizable NFL players.

“It has been a dream of mine to play a game in my mother’s home country of Germany since coming to the league,” St. Brown said. “I cannot wait to play in front of the incredible fans that I’ve gotten to know through my visits and football camps in the country.”

Detroit’s outreach includes a partnership with Bundesliga side F.C. Köln designed to promote both brands across continents.

The NFL will stage nine international games in 2026, with three in London and single contests in Munich, Madrid, Mexico City, Melbourne, Paris and Rio de Janeiro. The Lions’ exact date and kickoff time will be unveiled during the league’s spring schedule release.