After a meeting full of emotions and passionate shouts that echoed throughout the Santiago Bernabeu in 2025, the NFL has once again looked towards Madrid and on Monday it was announced that the NFL will return to the Estadio Bernabeu in 2026 for the enjoyment of all fans of the most popular sport in the United States.
It’s not just a sporting event, it’s the result of a multi-year agreement between the NFL, the Madrid City Council, the Community of Madrid and Real Madrid, who have joined forces to turn the city into the international epicenter of American football after a great result that left everyone very satisfied.
Rafael de los Santos, director of the NFL in Spain, confirms game in 2026 in Madrid
With the success of the match played in November 2025 between the Miami Dolphins and Washington Commanders, the National Football League (NFL) reached a multi-year agreement with the Madrid City Council, the Community of Madrid and Real Madrid to continue holding official matches at the Bernabeu.
“Next year we will have the NFL again at the Santiago Bernabeu. We will very likely repeat in 2027”
These were the words of Rafa De Los Santos, director of the NFL in Spain, during an interview on Radio MARCA with Rafa Sahuquillo.
“The game in November at the Bernabeu was a great match and a great event and all the people were very happy and lived it in a very special way”
Although it is already a fact that there will be a new game in 2026, the franchises chosen to play at the Estadio Bernabeu have not yet been revealed, although it was assured that the teams will be announced during the spring, when the NFL schedule is defined.
The president of the NFL in Spain also stressed that there are very few international games and that one of them is taking place in Madrid is a reason to celebrate not only for the city, but for the whole of Spain.
NFL international games in 2026
The confirmed international games are:
- A game in Melbourne, Australia, at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, with the Los Angeles Rams as the designated home team.
- A match in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, at the Maracana Stadium.
- A match in Munich, Germany, at the Allianz Arena, home of FC Bayern Munich.
- Three games in London, UK.
- A match in Madrid, Spain, at the Bernabeu, home of Real Madrid C.F.
Without a doubt, the organization of the NFL in Spain will seek to repeat everything that went well in 2025 and improve it to create an even better experience for all NFL fans.
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