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Bengals, Falcons Play First NFL Game in Madrid

5/14/2026

42 9 Full Breakdown

Summary

Bengals Play Abroad

The Cincinnati Bengals will face the Atlanta Falcons at Bernabéu Stadium in Madrid on Sunday, Nov. 8, 2026, with kickoff at 9:30 a.m. ET.
NFL Network will broadcast the game.
Bengals Director of Strategy and Engagement Elizabeth Blackburn said the team aims to grow its global fanbase.
The game is one of nine 2026 International Games scheduled for cities such as Melbourne, Rio, London, Paris, Munich and Mexico City.

Summary

Falcons Play Spain

The Atlanta Falcons will host their first regular-season NFL game in Spain on Nov. 8, 2026.
This is Atlanta’s fourth European trip in six seasons after Toronto (2013) and London (2014, 2021, 2023).
NFL Country Manager Rafa de los Santos said Spanish fans’ passion is at an all-time high.
Travel packages offer refundable deposits for flights, hotels and tickets, excluding the Madrid game from the regular-season ticket bundle.

Summary

Taylor Trades Home

Coach Zac Taylor said he would trade a home crowd for an overseas game, calling himself “all for it”.
He learned the opponent only hours before the NFL announced the Madrid matchup.
Week 1 will host the 49ers-Rams in Melbourne and Week 3 the Ravens-Cowboys in Rio.
The NFL also scheduled games in Paris (Saints), Munich (Lions), Mexico City (49ers) and three London contests for the Jaguars (twice) and Commanders.

Summary

Burrow Abroad

Joe Burrow will play his first NFL international game as the Cincinnati Bengals face a Madrid opponent, a road contest that preserves the team’s uninterrupted home schedule this season.
The Madrid matchup is the Bengals’ first international game of the Joe Burrow era.
Cincinnati’s last international appearance under head coach Zac Taylor was in 2019 at London’s Wembley Stadium, where they lost to the Los Angeles Rams.

History

Historical Context

The NFL’s first regular-season game abroad occurred on 2 October 2005, when the Arizona Cardinals defeated the San Francisco 49 ers at Estadio Azteca before 103,467 fans. That milestone sparked the International Series in 2007, initially in London and later adding Munich, Paris and other venues. The 2026 Madrid game between the Cincinnati Bengals and Atlanta Falcons continues the league’s push into Europe.

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Bengals Play Abroad

The Cincinnati Bengals will face the Atlanta Falcons at Bernabéu Stadium in Madrid on Sunday, Nov. 8, 2026, with kickoff at 9:30 a.m. ET.
NFL Network will broadcast the game.
Bengals Director of Strategy and Engagement Elizabeth Blackburn said the team aims to grow its global fanbase.
The game is one of nine 2026 International Games scheduled for cities such as Melbourne, Rio, London, Paris, Munich and Mexico City.

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