The first team for the NFL Munich Game 2026 in the Allianz Arena in Munich has been determined.
According to information from RTL/ntv and sport.de The Detroit Lions will be one of the participating teams in the upcoming German game in the US league. Reported on the Lions’ participation RTL on Tuesday exclusively in the lunchtime journal “Point 12”.
This marks the German debut of star receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown in the NFL’s sixth regular-season game on German soil. The German-American with Leverkusen roots is one of the best wide receivers in the league and is one of the defining faces of the Detroit Lions.
Before the official announcement RTL/ntv and sport.de spoke to former NFL professional and current RTL NFL expert Markus Kuhn.
(All quotes are free for use with reference to RTL/ntv and sport.de.)
Video: The highlights of the NFL season
Markus Kuhn…
… about Amon-Ra St. Brown’s Germany debut:
“This decision is of course hugely important. Amon-Ra is German-American, speaks fluent German and is still one of the best receivers in the entire NFL. He knows how big his fan base is in Germany. He and his brother regularly hold summer camps here for the German football community. Sending the Lions to Germany with this top star shows how important we as a market now have for the NFL.”
… about the sporting situation at the Detroit Lions:
“The Lions were a possible candidate for the Super Bowl for a long time last season, especially since they were so convincing in the previous season. The fact that they didn’t even make it into the playoffs was surprising. On the other hand, they had a lot of injury problems. This shows once again how difficult it is to get into the NFL playoffs – even for the supposed top teams. This worse season is probably still a bit deep for them, but it can also be a strong motivating factor for the new season. With the Lions “We definitely have someone who can be a playoff candidate or even more in Munich.”
… about possible opponents of the Detroit Lions:
“I definitely know that the Patriots are very interested in playing in Munich. They are really keen on it. I know that from a direct source. I could also very well imagine a matchup between the Lions and the Patriots. If the NFL says that it doesn’t have to be a team from the AFC, but rather a team from the NFC, I could very well imagine the Packers. They haven’t been to Germany yet, they also have a big fan base and are trying very hard for the German market. Of course, out of my own interest, I would also like to, to see the Giants in Germany.”
… about the venue Munich:
“Munich is actually my favorite venue. Berlin was of course something very special last year, and I’m happy about the change between the cities. But I just really like the city of Munich. I think that the Munich culture, where you sit together at big beer tables in the breweries, fits perfectly with the NFL culture, where everything is very informal. Everyone can sit at the table with everyone else, drink a beer and watch football. I love the Munich Games. The Allianz Arena is of course It’s also just an incredibly great stadium and the atmosphere has always been incredible.”
NFL: The Lions’ possible opponents in Munich
However, the NFL will not announce the exact date and the Lions’ opponent until the schedule is published in May. However, only a maximum of nine different teams can be considered as additional teams in Munich:
| team | Conference | division |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago Bears | NFC | North |
| Green Bay Packers | NFC | North |
| Minnesota Vikings | NFC | North |
| New Orleans Saints* | NFC | South |
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers | NFC | South |
| New England Patriots | AFC | East |
| New York Jets | AFC | East |
| New York Giants* | NFC | East |
| Tennessee Titans | AFC | South |
*) The Saints and Giants are considered unlikely as the Saints will play in Paris and the Giants will also reportedly host an international home game.
NFL: Nine international games in 2026
The NFL has so far confirmed the following international games for the 2026 regular season:
| country | City | stadium | Participating teams |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia | Melbourne | Melbourne Cricket Ground | Los Angeles Rams vs. San Francisco 49ers |
| Brazil | Rio de Janeiro | Maracana | Dallas Cowboys |
| Germany | Munich | Allianz Arena | Detroit Lions |
| Great Britain | London | Wembley | Jacksonville Jaguars |
| Great Britain | London | Tottenham Hotspur Stadium | |
| Great Britain | London | Tottenham Hotspur Stadium | |
| Spain | Madrid | Santiago Bernabeu | |
| France | Paris | Stadium de France | New Orleans Saints |
| Mexico | Mexico City | Estadio Banorte | San Francisco 49ers |

