Amon-Ra St. Brown’s mother was born in Cologne, Germany. Patrick McDermott / Getty Images
Feb. 24, 2026Updated 9:39 am EST
The Detroit Lions will play in Munich, Germany, during the 2026 season as part of the NFL’s international series, the team announced Tuesday.
“We are thrilled to be playing internationally and specifically in Munich for the 2026 season,” Lions president and CEO Rod Wood said in a statement. “As an organization, we have invested greatly in the German market and are excited to play in front of our passionate German fans.”
Tuesday’s announcement confirmed a long-awaited pairing for the Lions and the league. The Lions hold Global Markets Program rights in Austria, Brazil, Canada, Germany and Switzerland. All-Pro wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown is half-German and speaks the language fluently.
St. Brown has been open in recent years about his interest in playing an international game in Germany.
“It has been a dream of mine to play a game in my mother’s home country of Germany since coming to the league,” said St. Brown, whose mother hails from Cologne, in western Germany. “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.”
The Lions last played an international game in 2015, a 45-10 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in London. As the NFL continued to expand its international game rotation, it was only a matter of time until the Lions would get another one on their schedule. At the owners’ meetings a year ago, Wood said it was “highly likely” that the Lions would play internationally during the 2026 season. The game will be played at the FC Bayern Munich Stadium this fall.
Feb 24, 2026
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