The NFL is officially heading to the Iberian Peninsula, announcing that the Atlanta Falcons and the Cincinnati Bengals will face off in Spain during the 2026 season. The matchup was confirmed during a preview on NFL Network's "The Insiders," per Ian Rapoport.
This landmark game is scheduled to be held at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium in Madrid. The stadium, home to the legendary soccer club Real Madrid, recently underwent extensive renovations to accommodate multi-purpose events, including American football. This will mark the first time the NFL has played a regular-season game in Spain, further extending the league's footprint across Europe following successful ventures in London and Germany.
The league had previously confirmed Madrid as a host city for future international fixtures, and this announcement solidifies the Falcons and Bengals as the featured teams for the 2026 international slate. Both franchises will participate in the league's ongoing initiative to expand the global reach of the sport under the current 17-game season format.
Specific details regarding the ticket sales, exact kickoff date, and broadcasting rights for the Madrid game will be released by the league at a later date as the 2026 schedule is finalized.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
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