The first team for the Munich Game 2026 has been announced

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”. The NFL has now officially announced the team.

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.

St. Brown commented on the good news for him to the NFL as follows: “Ever since I came into the league, it has been my dream to one day be in my mother’s home country,
Germany, to play. I can’t wait to play in front of the incredible fans I’ve met through my visits and football camps in this country. Your support towards me and the great solidarity of the German fans with the Lions is inspiring. I’m looking forward to our team bringing Detroit football to life
can present at an international level.”

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.)

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.”

“With the largest fan base in Europe, Germany is a central market for the NFL’s international growth ambitions,” said Alexander Steinforth, General Manager of NFL Germany. “We are thrilled to welcome the Detroit Lions to the 2026 NFL Munich Game – and in collaboration with the Lions, FC Bayern Munich and the city of Munich, we look forward to providing fans in the region with an unforgettable experience in the 2026 NFL season.”

Munich’s mayor Dieter Reiter also welcomed the choice of the Lions in a statement: “I am very pleased that with the Detroit Lions we can once again welcome a team rich in tradition to our city. This next NFL game will show once again that Munich is an excellent stage for top international sport – passionate, cosmopolitan and full of enthusiasm. The games of the NFL International Series have already transformed Munich into an enthusiastic football metropolis in 2022 and 2024. If in the Munich Arena again “When tens of thousands of fans celebrate together, you can feel the special energy of sport – for many people in Munich, the moment when the entire stadium sang ‘Country Roads’ remains unforgotten – a goosebumps experience that has an impact far beyond the game.”

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:

*) 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: