The Atlanta Falcons have been unveiled as one of the participating teams for the second NFL International Series game in Madrid later this year.

While the Falcons’ opponent, along with the precise game date and kickoff time, will be announced when the full 2026 NFL schedule is revealed later this spring, the announcement temporarily nixes predictions that Atlanta might be the preferred opponent for the Detroit Lions in Munich, a thought stemming from the fact that the Falcons hold marketing rights in Germany.

The German market is the most heavily saturated by NFL teams, however, with 11 currently operating in the region, providing greater scope for the Lions’ 2026 opponent at the Allianz Arena. Spain, meanwhile, has just three teams holding marketing rights and, with the Miami Dolphins having played in the inaugural Madrid game last season, there is the distinct possibility that one of the other two — Chicago and Kansas City — could feature in 2026, with both being slated for road trips to Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

“The passion for the NFL in Spain is at an all-time high, and welcoming the Atlanta Falcons to Madrid for a regular season game is a historic moment for our growing fanbase,” said NFL country manager Rafa de los Santos. “I’m sure the Falcons will enjoy competing in such an iconic stadium as the Bernabéu, in one of the world’s great sporting capitals, Madrid, and that fans will once again experience, first-hand, the intensity, speed, and talent that make the NFL unique.”

The game in Madrid will be one of a record nine International Series games in 2026 across four continents, seven countries and eight stadiums, as the Estadio Santiago Bernabéu plays host to its second NFL regular season game. There is also a football-related tie that binds the two cities this summer.

“We are incredibly proud to be part of an NFL regular season game in Madrid at the iconic Bernabéu,” Falcons president and CEO Greg Beadles admitted. “Atlanta and Madrid are a fitting match as we will host two of Spain’s group stage matches in the upcoming FIFA World Cup at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

“This opportunity reflects the continued global growth of both the NFL and the Atlanta Falcons, and we look forward to deepening our connection with our European community by hosting another sporting contest here at home and returning to Europe for the fourth time in six seasons. On behalf of our entire organisation, we are excited to experience Spain’s rich culture and to collaborate with outstanding partners including Real Madrid C.F., the city of Madrid and the Comunidad de Madrid. The Falcons are honoured to play a role in advancing the NFL’s international growth.”

Spain is fast becoming an important market for the NFL, with 11 million fans currently enjoying the sport, even as the league hones its focus on year-round efforts to develop flag football across the country. NFL Flag, the league’s official youth flag football programme, launched in Spain in 2024 and is already reaching children in schools across Madrid, Barcelona and Zaragoza, with further expansion planned in partnership with Federación Española de Fútbol Americano (FEFA).