Atlanta Falcons to Play in 2026 NFL Madrid Game

Falcons to be one of the Participating Teams for the Return to the Bernabéu

MADRID, SPAIN — March 3, 2026 — The National Football League has announced that the Atlanta Falcons will be one of the participating teams for the upcoming 2026 NFL Madrid game.

The game in Madrid will be one of a record nine international games in 2026 across four continents, seven countries and eight stadiums – and will be played at the world-class Bernabéu– home to Real Madrid C.F. as part of a multi-year partnership with the City of Madrid and Comunidad de Madrid.

“The passion for the NFL in Spain is at an all‑time high, and welcoming the Atlanta Falcons to Madrid for a regular‑season game is a historic moment for our growing fanbase,” said NFL Country Manager Rafa de los Santos. “I’m sure the Falcons will enjoy competing in such an iconic stadium as the Bernabéu, in one of the world’s great sporting capitals, Madrid, and that fans will once again experience firsthand the intensity, speed, and talent that make the NFL unique.”

“We are incredibly proud to be part of an NFL regular season game in Madrid at the iconic Bernabéu,” said Falcons President and CEO Greg Beadles. “Atlanta and Madrid are a fitting match as we will host two of Spain’s group stage matches in the upcoming FIFA World Cup at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. This opportunity reflects the continued global growth of both the NFL and the Atlanta Falcons, and we look forward to deepening our connection with our European community by hosting another sporting contest here at home and returning to Europe for the fourth time in six seasons. On behalf of our entire organization, we are excited to experience Spain’s rich culture and to collaborate with outstanding partners including Real Madrid C.F., the city of Madrid, and the Comunidad de Madrid. The Falcons are honored to play a role in advancing the NFL’s international growth.”

The Falcons’ opponent, along with the game date and kickoff time, will be announced when the full 2026 NFL schedule is revealed this spring.

Spain is an important market for the NFL globally with 11 million fans. As part of a broader multi-year commitment to growing the game at every level in Spain, the NFL will also focus on year-round efforts to develop NFL Flag across the country. Flag football, the non‑contact format of the game, will make its debut as an Olympic sport in Los Angeles 2028 (LA28).

NFL Flag, the league’s official youth flag football program, launched in Spain in 2024 and is already reaching children in schools across Madrid, Barcelona and Zaragoza, with further expansion planned in partnership with Federación Española de Fútbol Americano (FEFA).

Fans can sign up for information on the 2026 NFL Madrid game here.

Sixty-two regular-season NFL games have been played outside the United States with London, Berlin, Munich, Frankfurt, Madrid, Dublin, São Paulo, Mexico City and Toronto having hosted games to date.

2026 NFL International Markets: (* designates a new market/city for 2026)

·       London, U.K. (Two games in Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, One in Wembley Stadium)

·       Madrid, Spain (Bernabéu)

·       Melbourne, Australia* (Melbourne Cricket Ground)

·       Mexico City, Mexico (Estadio Banorte)

·       Munich, Germany (FC Bayern Munich Stadium)

·       Paris, France* (Stade de France Stadium)

·       Rio De Janeiro, Brazil* (Maracanã Stadium)

Fans can sign up to receive information on all 2026 NFL International Games at the following:

·       2026 NFL London games: nfl.com/London

·       2026 NFL Madrid game: nfl.com/Madrid

·       2026 NFL Melbourne game: nfl.com/Melbourne 

·       2026 NFL Mexico City game: nfl.com/Mexicocity2026

·       2026 NFL Munich game: nfl.com/Munich

·       2026 NFL Paris game: nfl.com/Paris  

·       2026 NFL Rio game: nfl.com/Rio

Regular season games played in Spain: