The NFL will open its 2026 season with an immediate rematch of this year's championship game. The Seattle Seahawks, fresh off their 29-13 Super Bowl victory over the New England Patriots, will face their vanquished opponents again on September 9 in what promises to be a marquee opening matchup.
The league is doubling down on a formula it tested successfully a decade ago. A Wednesday night kickoff, only the second in NFL history, will launch a 272-game regular season that stretches across four continents and includes a record nine international matchups.
"We saw what a big draw that was," said NFL executive Hans Schroeder, referring to the appeal of Super Bowl rematches in Week 1. The strategy is proven ground. Denver and Carolina squared off in the season opener following Super Bowl 50 in 2016, and the Eagles defeated the Chiefs in Week 2 last year after winning the championship.
The Seahawks' roster will look different from the one that dominated New England. Coach Mike Macdonald and quarterback Sam Darnold will lead Seattle's defense and offense, while Patriots coach Mike Vrabel returns to the sideline for his first game since stepping away during the draft for personal counseling. Rookie quarterback Drake Maye will make his regular-season debut under center for New England.
Beyond the opener, the league stacked Week 1 with heavyweight matchups. The 49ers travel to Melbourne to face the Rams on September 10 in the first of nine games played outside the United States. The Cowboys and Giants meet in Sunday night's showcase game, while Denver and Kansas City renew their AFC West rivalry on Monday Night Football.
International games will blanket the schedule. Sixteen of the league's 32 teams will play at least one road game abroad. The 49ers and Jaguars each get two international fixtures. San Francisco heads to Mexico City in Week 11 to face Minnesota, while Jacksonville hosts consecutive London games against Philadelphia and Houston in Weeks 5 and 6. The Steelers will play New Orleans in Paris on October 25 in the NFL's first regular-season game in France. Matchups are also scheduled for Rio de Janeiro, Madrid, and Munich.
Holiday football remains a tradition. The Bills host the Chiefs on Thanksgiving night to close out that day's tripleheader. Christmas Eve features the Eagles hosting the Texans, and Christmas Day itself spans the Packers-Bears, Bills-Broncos, and Rams-Seahawks games. Aaron Rodgers and the Steelers face Denver on Black Friday.
Author James Rodriguez: "The NFL learned a lesson with Denver-Carolina and is mining that well again, but nine international games in one season feels like the league spreading itself thin when talent and viewership remain stateside."
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