NFL Returns to London as European Franchise Talks Resurface — SkimNews
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- The NFL returns to the UK with three London games in October 2026, beginning with the Indianapolis Colts hosting the Washington Commanders at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
- Jacksonville Jaguars play twice in London, facing the Philadelphia Eagles at Tottenham the following week before hosting AFC South rivals the Houston Texans at Wembley Stadium on October 18
- The 2026 season features a record nine international games, including firsts in Melbourne, Rio de Janeiro, and Paris, with London cited as the blueprint for the expansion
- Commissioner Roger Goodell publicly raised the prospect of a European division with teams in London, Germany, Spain, and France during a visit to Germany this summer, putting franchise expansion back on the table
- If the NFL negotiates a regular-season expansion from 17 to 18 games with the Players Association, up to 16 games could be played internationally each year
- The league is currently pursuing a Formula 1-style approach of rotating different teams into different markets to grow fanbases globally, rather than committing to permanent international franchises
Why it matters: The NFL is staging a record nine international games in 2026 with debuts on three continents, and Goodell's renewed openness to permanent European franchises signals the league views its London test case as a viable model for a multi-country division rather than one-off exports. With the 18-game season expansion on the negotiating table, up to 16 games per year could move overseas, transforming how and where the league generates revenue.
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