The Green Bay Packers 2026 schedule will not be released until early May, but today the last international host was announced, which does affect the Packers.

With today’s news of the Atlanta Falcons hosting the Madrid, Spain game, it means the Packers will not be a host for an international game. Because in 2026 the NFC will have the 9th home game, seven of the eight hosts that have been selected are NFC teams. The lone exception is the Jacksonville Jaguars, who have been hosting games annually in London since 2013.

How does this affect the Green Bay Packers?

Just like in 2024, the Packers will play nine games at Lambeau Field. In 2022, the first year the NFC had nine home games, the Packers hosted a game against the New York Giants in London at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

In 2024, the Packers could not take advantage of playing nine home games, as they lost all three home games to divisional opponents. Last season the Packers finished 5-3 at home with losses to the Carolina Panthers, Philadelphia Eagles and Baltimore Ravens.

With the NFC having extra home games, it is likely the top teams in the conference will have strong records, compared to years when the AFC has the ninth home game. In 2022 the NFC’s #1 seed was the 14-3 Eagles and in 2024 the #1 seed was the 15-2 Lions.

Can the Packers still play overseas?

Of the teams selected to play international games, several are on the Packers’ 2026 schedule. Three of the teams will be coming to Lambeau Field next season: Dallas Cowboys, Atlanta Falcons and Detroit Lions. The Packers will be playing road games against the Los Angeles Rams, Detroit Lions and New Orleans Saints.

The Rams’ international game already has an opponent, the San Francisco 49ers, so the Packers will not be traveling to Melbourne, Australia. There is a chance the Packers could play in Europe, as they have road games against Detroit and New Orleans.

It is unlikely a Lions-Packers game would be played in Germany, however, the NFL has already scheduled an NFC division rivalry game in another country, so it is possible that a marquee matchup, like Lions-Packers could be played overseas. The Packers, like the Lions, are a popular team in Germany, so it is possible.

Another option overseas is playing in Paris, France against the New Orleans Saints. If the Packers and Saints were to play in Paris, it would be the first NFL regular season game to be played in France.

It would also mean the Packers would miss out on traveling to New Orleans and playing in the Superdome for the second straight time the Saints were a road opponent. In 2021, the Week 1 Packers at Saints game was played in Jacksonville because of Hurricane Ida, as the Saints were displaced for the week leading up to the game.