The Detroit Lions are officially packing their passports for the 2026 NFL season.
According to recent league communication, the Lions have been informed they’ll be part of the NFL’s international slate that year. While the exact destination hasn’t been locked in yet, the possibilities are intriguing - with England, Germany, Brazil, and Australia all in the mix. And based on the NFL’s latest announcements, the league isn’t done expanding its global footprint just yet.
Here’s what we know: the NFL confirmed it will return to Munich’s FC Bayern Munich Stadium in both 2026 and 2028, continuing its growing relationship with German fans. London remains a staple, with two games set for Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Brazil’s debut game in Rio de Janeiro is also on the calendar, and the league is breaking new ground in Australia, where the Rams will serve as the designated home team for a game in Melbourne.
Now, how does this all tie back to Detroit?
Well, the Lions’ 2026 schedule could hold the key to where they’re headed. They’re slated to play the same-place finisher from the NFC West on the road - and as of Week 15 of the 2025 season, that team would be the San Francisco 49ers.
If that matchup sticks, it likely rules out Australia for Detroit, since the Rams are already penciled in as the home team for the Melbourne game. Unless the standings shift, that international clash down under probably won’t feature the Lions.
Looking at the rest of Detroit’s 2026 schedule, their home opponents include the usual NFC North rivals - Packers, Vikings, and Bears - along with the Saints, Buccaneers, Patriots, Jets, and same-place finishers from the NFC East (currently the Giants) and AFC South (currently the Colts). On the road, they’ll visit the Falcons, Panthers, Bills, Dolphins, and again, the NFC North trio. That same-place NFC West road game remains the wild card.
As for international experience, the Lions have dipped their toes in global waters before - twice, in fact. They’re 1-1 in those games, with a dramatic 22-21 win over the Falcons in London back in 2014, and a tough 45-10 loss to the Chiefs at Wembley in 2025. Both of those contests were played in the UK, and while London remains a strong candidate for their next trip abroad, the NFL’s expanding map means Detroit could be headed somewhere entirely new.
Whether it’s samba in Brazil, schnitzel in Germany, or a long-haul flight to the land down under, one thing’s clear: the Lions are going global again in 2026. And with the way this team is building, they might just give international fans a show worth watching.