Hallo, Deutschland. Willkommen, Detroit Lions.
The NFL announced on Feb. 24 that the Lions will be one of the teams playing in the 2026 International Series game in Munich. According to a Lions press release, ‘the game date, kickoff time and opponent (are) to be announced during the NFL’s greater schedule release,’ which usually takes place in May.
Detroit’s foray into Germany will be the team’s third international trip ever and first since 2015. The Lions’ last two international games were at Wembley Stadium in London, once as the victorious designated home team and once in a loss as the designated road team.
‘We are thrilled to be playing internationally and specifically in Munich for the 2026 season,’ Detroit Lions President & CEO Rod Wood said in a statement. ‘As an organization, we have invested greatly in the German market and are excited to play in front of our passionate German fans.’
Since March 2024, the Lions have had international marketing rights in Germany – as well as Austria, Canada and Switzerland – as part of the NFL’s Global Markets Program. Their marketing efforts included introducing Leo Löwe, an official mascot in Germany, hosting watch parties in Cologne for Detroit’s annual Thanksgiving games and putting on several youth football camps.
Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown, who is a dual American and German citizen and speaks fluent German, has also been something of an NFL ambassador to Germany. Part of St. Brown’s work representing the NFL in Germany has been his involvement with the Lions’ youth football camps abroad.
‘It has been a dream of mine to play a game in my mother’s home country of Germany since coming to the league,’ St. Brown said in a statement. ‘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 to being the sixth NFL regular season game in Germany, the Lions’ international game will be the third to take place in Allianz Arena in Munich. Previous NFL venues in Germany include Deutsche Bank Park in Frankfurt and Olympiastadion in Berlin.