The Atlanta Falcons are headed to Spain in the 2026 season.
The NFL announced Tuesday morning that Atlanta will play in this year’s Madrid game, in what will be just the second American football game hosted by the city. The Washington Commanders and Miami Dolphins played in the first game last November. Like the Commanders and Dolphins, the Falcons will play at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, home of Real Madrid C.F.
Atlanta’s opponent has not been announced, but it will be one of the team’s home opponents for the season — the Cincinnati Bengals, Chicago Bears, Carolina Panthers, New Orleans Saints, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Detroit Lions, Baltimore Ravens, San Francisco 49ers or Kansas City Chiefs. The Saints, Lions and 49ers have already been placed in other international games, so it’s unlikely to be one of those.
“The passion for the NFL in Spain is at an all‑time high, and welcoming the Atlanta Falcons to Madrid for a regular‑season game is a historic moment for our growing fan base,” NFL country manager Rafa de los Santos said in a statement released by the league. “I’m sure the Falcons will enjoy competing in such an iconic stadium as the Bernabéu, in one of the world’s great sporting capitals, Madrid, and that fans will once again experience firsthand the intensity, speed and talent that make the NFL unique.”
This will be the sixth time the Falcons play outside the United States — Toronto in 2013, London in 2014, 2021 and 2023, and Berlin last season.
The game is one of a record nine international games for the league in the 2026 season. There are also games scheduled for London, Paris, Munich, Mexico City, Rio de Janeiro and Melbourne, Australia.
“We are incredibly proud to be part of an NFL regular-season game in Madrid at the iconic Bernabéu,” Falcons president and CEO Greg Beadles said in a statement released by the team. “On behalf of our entire organization, we are excited to experience Spain’s rich culture and to collaborate with outstanding partners including Real Madrid C.F., the city of Madrid and the Comunidad de Madrid.”’