The Detroit Lions and Green Bay Packers have reignited their rivalry over the last few seasons. In fact, Dan Campbell has a 6-4 record against Green Bay since he took over as head coach in 2021.
In 2026, it has already been confirmed that Detroit will be the “home” team for the NFL’s International Series in Munich Germany. Their opponent is up in the air, and some think it could be their biggest division rival. In fact, British Casinos that accept Visa have already started taking bets on who it could be.
Who Will The Lions Play In Munich Germany?
With Detroit set to be the home team, one of these following teams will be the opponent:
- Chicago Bears
- Minnesota Vikings
- Green Bay Packers
- Buffalo Bills
- Miami Dolphins
- Atlanta Falcons
- Carolina Panthers
- Arizona Cardinals
It wouldn’t be the first time that the NFL held a regular season divisional matchup played overseas. In 2005 the Cardinals and 49ers played in Mexico City. In 2019 the Panthers and Buccaneers played in London. It isn’t common, but the league has shown they are willing to schedule those matchups.
The game in Munich German this season is one of nine international games that will be played in 2026. The other locations include London, Madrid, Melbourne, Mexico City, Paris, and Rio de Janeiro.
This Year’s Game Will Mean More to Lions’ WR Amon-Ra St. Brown
Lions’ wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown is extremely excited about the idea of playing in Germany. His mother is from Germany and has said it would be a dream come true to play in that country:
“If you told me as a kid that I’d be playing in Germany, I’d never believe you,” St. Brown said. “It’d be a dream.”
“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. “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.”
How The International Series Has Impacted the NFL
It is no secret that the league is looking to broaden their fan base by taking the game overseas. Each year we are seeing more games and locations added to the schedule.
The league began their official international series in October of 2007 when the Giants took on the Dolphins at Wembley Stadium in London. New York won that contest 13-10. They went on to win the Super Bowl that year over the New England Patriots.
In 2012 the Jaguars agreed to play one home game in the same stadium from 2013 to 2016. They later extended their agreement through 2020. The games expanded to Mexico City in 2016. In 2019 the Raiders and Bears played the first ever game in London.
Changes for 2026 NFL International Series
The 2026 NFL season is set to be a landmark year for the league’s global expansion, featuring a record-breaking nine international games across four continents. This marks a significant jump from previous seasons and introduces several “firsts” for the league.
Here are the key changes and updates for the 2026 International Series:
New Host Cities and Venues
The NFL is aggressively expanding into new territories, with three cities making their regular-season debut:
Melbourne, Australia: The first-ever NFL game in Australia will take place at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). The Los Angeles Rams will host the San Francisco 49ers in Week 1.
Paris, France: The Stade de France will host its first NFL game, featuring the New Orleans Saints.
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil: After the league’s success in São Paulo, the series moves to Rio’s famous Maracanã Stadium, with the Dallas Cowboys serving as the host team.
How Are International Games Selected?
Each season, there will be at least four games played internationally. Each NFL team is guaranteed to play a home game at an international site every eight seasons.
As part of the league adopting a 17-game schedule in 2021, AFC and NFC teams will alternate seasons where they have nine home games. The host teams for international games will be selected from the conference with the ninth home game, so clubs still will host eight games in their home stadium. For example, since NFC teams have a ninth home game in 2022, four NFC teams will be selected to host an international game that season.
Teams can still volunteer to play home games abroad, just as they have in previous seasons.
Teams usually have their bye week after an international game.
Schedule makers will consider the three-week window around the international games to try to find ways to make lengthy travel less of a burden on the teams.