As of this publishing, we know the Detroit Lions will play a game in Munich, Germany for the 2026 season. However, most of the details about that game remain unknown. We don’t know the exact date of the game—although the Germany international game has traditionally been played in the first week or two of November. We also don’t know who the Lions’ opponent will be in that game.
We do know that Detroit will be the home team, which limits it to nine possible opponents: Bears, Packers, Vikings, Patriots, Saints, Giants, Jets, Buccaneers, and Titans. However, we can whittle that list down to seven based on comments made from Lions team president Rod Wood in an interview with the Detroit Free Press.
Wood said the team was able to protect two games from being overseason. The team’s selections: the Packers and the Vikings. Obviously, it was important for the Lions to have a true home-field advantage against divisional opponents, but with only two games to protect, it’s possible the Chicago Bears could be the Lions’ Germany opponent. However, Wood doesn’t believe that’ll happen.
”It could be Chicago [but] have a hard time believing that,” Wood said.
The NFL added Germany to their international slate in 2022. Here are the matchup we’ve seen thus far:
2022: Seahawks at Buccaneers
2023: Dolphins at Chiefs
2023: Colts at Patriots
2024: Giants at Panthers
2025: Falcons at Colts
So, thus far, there have not been any divisional games played in Germany. So, hopefully, the Lions will face one of their other six designated home opponents.
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