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The Detroit Lions are headed to Munich, Germany, for an international game during the 2026 season at FC Bayern Munich Stadium, the team said Tuesday. The opponent, date and time have not been announced.
Detroit has played overseas twice, both times as the designated visitor at London’s Wembley Stadium, and last played internationally in 2015, a 45-10 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. The only team on a longer run without a game abroad is the Dallas Cowboys, who will host a team in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, this upcoming season, after last playing internationally in 2014.
The Lions will be the home team for their game in Germany, so the opponent will be one of these teams: Chicago Bears, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings, New England Patriots, New Orleans Saints, New York Giants, New York Jets, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Tennessee Titans.
The location always made sense given the team’s strong ties to Deutschland.
“We are thrilled to be playing internationally and specifically in Munich for the 2026 season,” Detroit Lions president & CEO Rod Wood said. “As an organization, we have invested greatly in the German market and are excited to play in front of our passionate German fans.”
Superstar receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown’s mother grew up in Köln, located in west-central Germany. He has made frequent visits there to stay with his grandmother since childhood and speaks the language fluently, which opens the door to a ton of promotional opportunities leading up to the game.
“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 in a press release. “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. Their support for me and the country’s instant connection to the Lions brand is inspiring, and I’m looking forward to our team getting to showcase Detroit football on an international scale.”
In 2024, the Lions were awarded NFL Global Markets Program rights in Germany — among other countries — unlocking numerous marketing opportunities nationwide, such as an annual Thanksgiving viewing party in which 60 new German Lions fans were invited to partake in an authentic American Thanksgiving feast while watching the Lions. Last offseason, they entered a multi-year strategic partnership with the Bundesliga soccer club 1. FC Köln (FC Cologne in English), located in a town that borders Leverkusen.
“We have a competitive advantage (in Germany) in that we have an amazing top-five, top-one, top-two wide receiver in this league who speaks the language and understands the area and the culture and that part of the country, so that helps a ton,” Brian Facchini, the Lions’ chief communications and brand officer, told The Detroit News last July.
While the Lions’ most recent trip overseas featured a no-show on the field, their other trip in 2014 produced a thrilling comeback from down 21-0, culminating in a walk-off field goal by Matt Prater. The Lions’ kicker missed his original attempt from 43 yards, but Detroit was shockingly flagged for delay of the game, which meant the play was dead. His next try from 48 yards was through the uprights, a 22-21 Lions win. Detroit is 1-1 abroad all-time.
The NFL has already announced international games in Melbourne, Australia (Los Angeles Rams hosting the San Francisco 49ers), Paris, France (New Orleans Saints hosting TBD), and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (Dallas Cowboys hosting TBD). Additional sites with to-be-determined hosts include London, Madrid, and Mexico City.
Since 2007, the NFL has played 55 games outside of the United States.
To stay up to date with tickets, travel packages, and other details as they’re announced, the team urged fans to https://www.detroitlions.com/international/munich.
Lions 2026 opponents
Home (one game in Germany): Chicago Bears, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings, New England Patriots, New Orleans Saints, New York Giants, New York Jets, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Tennessee Titans.
Away: Chicago Bears, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings, Arizona Cardinals, Atlanta Falcons, Buffalo Bills, Carolina Panthers, Miami Dolphins.
nbianchi@detroitnews.com
@nolanbianchi
This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Lions will play international regular-season game in 2026
Reporting by Nolan Bianchi, The Detroit News / The Detroit News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
