NFL playing 9 international games in 2026. Could Colts be involved?

In the lead-up to Sunday’s Super Bowl, the NFL made a rash of announcements around the league’s record-breaking international slate of games for 2026, including confirming three more sites for regular season games later this year and three of the teams who need to get their passports in order.

Could the Colts again be in for a lengthy in-season trip? Here’s what we know about the NFL’s nine-game international slate in 2026 and how Indianapolis may – or may not – be involved.

NFL announces record 9 international games for 2026 season

The league’s seven-game international slate in 2025 – including the Colts – set a league record and expanded the league’s horizons past the United States’ borders. This past season, the NFL played its first regular season games in Berlin, Germany; Dublin, Ireland; and Madrid, Spain – leading to the league’s most international games to date.

With the addition of the league’s first games to be played in Paris, France; Melbourne, Australia, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, along with a return to Madrid, Spain; Mexico City, Mexico; and Munich, Germany; and three games in London; England, the NFL will up its all-time international games mark to nine – with a perceived goal of reaching 16 to allow every team in the league to play one international game each year.

Who is scheduled to play already in 2026 international games?

The NFL confirmed that the New Orleans Saints would be one of the two teams to play in France next year. Though presently unconfirmed, multiple reports state the Cleveland Browns are the Saints’ opponent.

The Los Angeles Rams have long been announced to be one of the teams set to make the lengthy trek to Australia, but last week, the league confirmed they would be joined by the San Francisco 49ers, eliminating a second potential international destination for the Colts for next season. Along with the Jacksonville Jaguars’ annual trip to London, the Dallas Cowboys were also confirmed to be one of the two teams playing in Brazil later this year, leaving the rest of the international game participants presently unknown.

Who are the Colts’ scheduled opponents in 2026?

Next season, the Colts are slated to host eight home games with nine set to be played on the road. Along with their home-and-away divisional games against the Houston Texans, Jacksonville Jaguars and the Tennessee Titans, Indianapolis will host the Cincinnati Bengals, Dallas Cowboys, Miami Dolphins, New York Giants and Baltimore Ravens at Lucas Oil Stadium. Along with their AFC South slate, the Colts will also travel to the Cleveland Browns, Kansas City Chiefs, Philadelphia Eagles, Pittsburgh Steelers, Washington Commanders and the Minnesota Vikings.

Where could the Colts play internationally in 2026?

Though they’re not guarantees, using the NFL’s Global Markets Program can be a decent indicator of at least one team that may play in a future international games. The program gives teams international marketing rights to help build brand awareness and fandom in other countries through targeted fan engagement events and various commercial opportunities.

Of the seven international games played in 2025, six – all but the Chargers-Chiefs game in Sao Paulo, Brazil – included at least one team included in the country’s Global Markets Program. The Colts and Falcons are part of Germany’s program.

When looking at the Colts’ 2026 opponents and where those teams are linked to, here are the most notable possibilities:

>>London: Not only do the Jaguars play here each year – and the Colts played Jacksonville in London in 2016 – but the Ravens, Chiefs, Dolphins and Vikings all are part of the United Kingdom’s NFL program abroad, giving Indianapolis seemingly ample opportunities to play in the U.K.

>>Madrid: The Chiefs and Dolphins – who played in Madrid last season – have links to Spain.

>>Munich: Along with the Colts, the Chiefs, Giants and Steelers all hold links to Germany, where the Colts have now played their last two international games – Frankfort against the Patriots in 2023 and Berlin against the Falcons last year.

>>Mexico City: Of the Colts’ opponents next year, the Cowboys, Texans, Chiefs, Dolphins and Steelers all carry links to Mexico.

In a less-likely scenario, the Colts are slated to play the Cowboys, who’ve already been announced as one of the participants for the game in Rio, but with neither Indianapolis, nor Dallas, being one of the country’s affiliate program members, the Colts playing there seems unlikely.

It’s also worth nothing that with 18 possible slots for teams in international games to fill with the 32-team league, the Colts landing a trip outside the U.S. in back-to-back years also feels somewhat doubtful. The Rams are slated to do just that after playing in London last season. Also this year, the NFL scheduled the Vikings to play international games in back-to-back weeks in Dublin and London at the request of the team, so unique circumstances aren’t completely out of the question.

Along with the Colts, the Chiefs, Steelers and Dolphins all played international games last year among Indianapolis’ 2026 opponents.

Joel A. Erickson and Nathan Brown cover the Colts all season. Get more coverage on IndyStarTV and with the Colts Insider newsletter.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: NFL 2026 international games: How Colts could be involved in overseas games

NFL playing 9 international games in 2026. Could Colts be involved?

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