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Falcons vs. Bengals Play First NFL Game in Madrid

5/13/2026

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Summary

NFL Stages Madrid

The NFL will stage a regular-season game between the Atlanta Falcons and Cincinnati Bengals at Bernabéu Stadium in Madrid, Spain, on Sunday, Nov. 8, 2026.
The Falcons are listed as the home team, counting the contest as one of their nine 2026 home games.
NFL Network will broadcast the Week 9 matchup and provide a streaming option via NFL+.
The NFL signed a deal to keep games in Madrid as a growth market.

Summary

Fans Travel

Travel packages start at $1,095 per fan, covering premium seats, round-trip airfare and hotel stays.
Expedia lists Cincinnati-Madrid flights from $826, requiring at least one stop and lasting 10-15 hours.
The Bernabéu’s $1.9 billion overhaul adds a 360-degree video board, retractable roof and underground turf storage.
Bengals Director Elizabeth Blackburn said the Madrid matchup offers a chance to display worldwide fan passion.

Summary

NFL Goes Global

2026 NFL slate includes a Rio de Janeiro game between Baltimore Ravens and Dallas Cowboys, a Melbourne matchup of San Francisco 49ers and Los Angeles Rams, and a Spain game for Atlanta Falcons.
The Detroit Lions and New Orleans Saints are set for games in Munich and Paris.
The Jacksonville Jaguars and Washington Commanders have two London games this season.
A November match at the Bernabéu drew 78,610 spectators.

History

Historical Context

In 2007 the NFL, under Commissioner Roger Goodell, staged its first regular-season game outside North America when the New York Giants beat the Miami Dolphins 13-10 at Wembley, prompting owners to approve up to two international games per season. The 2026 Falcons-Bengals matchup at Madrid’s Bernabéu extends that London breakthrough, part of a strategy that generated over half a million ticket requests for the inaugural event.

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NFL Stages Madrid

The NFL will stage a regular-season game between the Atlanta Falcons and Cincinnati Bengals at Bernabéu Stadium in Madrid, Spain, on Sunday, Nov. 8, 2026.
The Falcons are listed as the home team, counting the contest as one of their nine 2026 home games.
NFL Network will broadcast the Week 9 matchup and provide a streaming option via NFL+.
The NFL signed a deal to keep games in Madrid as a growth market.

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