Ja’Marr Chase is asking the same question plenty of Bengals fans have been wondering: are the Bengals finally heading overseas?
“Bengals playing out the country this year @NFL?” Chase tweeted late on February 6, echoing the curiosity around Cincinnati’s international prospects for the 2026 season.
The Bengals’ 2026 regular-season opponents are already set, thanks to their third-place finish in the AFC North. That finish comes with an extra road game-which, in the NFL’s international scheduling world, often puts a team in prime position to be tapped as the “road” side in a global showcase. If the league’s looking to send Cincinnati abroad, this could be the year.
There’s some precedent for the buzz. Back in 2025, there were rumblings about a potential Bengals-Dolphins matchup in Madrid.
Joe Burrow even got in on the action, making a plea on Instagram to bring the game to Spain. But that matchup never came to life, and the Bengals stayed stateside.
That said, there’s a long-term plan in motion. Bengals executive VP Katie Blackburn confirmed in 2025 that Cincinnati is expected to host an international game in 2027. So while 2026 might be about playing the role of visitor, the franchise is clearly gearing up for a bigger presence on the international stage.
Around the league, the 2026 international slate is already taking shape-and it’s historic.
The San Francisco 49ers and Los Angeles Rams are set to square off at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, marking the NFL’s first-ever regular-season game in Australia. That’s a massive move for the league’s global growth, and a marquee NFC West rivalry is a fitting way to debut Down Under.
Over in South America, the Dallas Cowboys are heading to Rio de Janeiro to play at the iconic Maracanã Stadium. Their opponent hasn’t been announced yet, but the venue alone makes this a milestone moment-the NFL’s first regular-season game in Brazil.
Europe remains a major hub for international games. The New Orleans Saints are slated to play in Paris, while London will once again host three games across the city.
Munich is set for another matchup in Germany, and Madrid is back in the mix too, with one game expected in the Spanish capital. Mexico City is also on the board for a regular-season contest.
That’s a global footprint that stretches across four continents, and the Bengals could very well be part of it-if not as a host, then as a road team. For now, Chase-and Bengals fans everywhere-will have to wait and see if Cincinnati’s passport gets stamped in 2026. But the signs are there, and the NFL’s international plans aren’t slowing down anytime soon.