The Detroit Lions announced on Feb. 24 that they will participate in a regular season NFL International Series game in Munich during the 2026 season. The matchup will take place at FC Bayern Munich Stadium, with the exact date, kickoff time, and opponent to be revealed later as part of the NFL’s broader schedule release.
This announcement is significant as it marks the Lions’ return to international play after more than a decade. Their last overseas appearance was at London’s Wembley Stadium in November 2015. The team has been active in building its presence in Germany since being granted marketing rights for the DACH region—Germany, Austria, and Switzerland—under the NFL’s Global Markets Program starting in 2024.
“We are thrilled to be playing internationally and specifically in Munich for the 2026 season,” said Detroit Lions President & CEO Rod Wood. “As an organization, we have invested greatly in the German market and are excited to play in front of our passionate German fans.” The Lions have introduced initiatives such as a mascot named Leo Löwe with a German flag-inspired mane, hosted Thanksgiving Day Classic watch parties in Cologne, launched a streetwear collaboration with designer MiDNIGHT, and held youth football camps across Germany featuring wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown.
St. Brown said, “It has been a dream of mine to play a game in my mother’s home country of Germany since coming to the league. 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.” In addition, On Location has opened its Priority Access deposit program for ticket and travel packages related to this event.
Ford Field serves as the home stadium for the Detroit Lions and was developed with $500 million from both public sources like the City of Detroit and private entities including Ford Motor Company according to the official site. The stadium features optimal sight lines for professional football games according to the official website, hosts nearly 1.5 million attendees annually for various events contributing to community engagement according to the official website, includes a seven-story atrium integrated with a historic warehouse from the 1920s according to the official website, encompasses about 1.85 million square feet with seating for up to 65,000 people according to the official website.
Looking ahead, fans can follow updates about ticketing and travel packages on dedicated channels as details become available. The Lions’ participation reflects ongoing efforts by NFL teams under programs like Global Markets Program—which allows clubs five-year terms of international marketing rights—to expand their reach beyond U.S. borders.
