NFL International Series Betting: How to Handicap & Bet on the NFL’s Overseas Games
Written by: Eddie Griffin
Published: Sun Sep 13, 2026, 11:09 pm ET
Read Time: 13 minutes
In recent years, international games have grown from an occasional addition to the NFL schedule. Now the International Series is a significant part of the NFL season. London remains the league's most established international destination, but regular-season games have expanded into other parts of Europe, Mexico, Brazil, Australia, and other markets.
For bettors, the fundamentals of NFL betting don't change when a game is played internationally. The point spread, moneyline, over/under, prop bets, and other familiar betting markets remain available at top NFL betting sites such as Lucky Rebel and BetOnline.
However, playing thousands of miles from a team's home stadium can introduce factors that aren't present during a typical NFL week. Travel, time-zone changes, acclimation, scheduling, and unfamiliar venues can all affect the circumstances surrounding a matchup.
The key is determining which factors actually matter rather than assuming an international game needs to be handicapped differently simply because of where it is played.
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What Is the NFL International Series?
The NFL has played games outside the United States for decades, but international regular-season games have become much more prominent since the International Series began in London in 2007.
London served as the primary home for those games for years, but the league has steadily expanded its international footprint. Germany, Spain, Ireland, Brazil, and Mexico have hosted regular-season games, while the 2026 schedule adds first-time games in Australia and France and the first game in Rio de Janeiro.
As the NFL International Series schedule has expanded, so have the circumstances bettors may need to evaluate. A game in London can involve a very different trip and playing environment from one in Mexico City, Brazil, or Australia.
2026 NFL International Series Schedule: Where and When Will This Season's Overseas Games Take Place?
The 2026 NFL International Series features a record nine games across seven countries and four continents. The schedule begins in Melbourne in Week 1 and runs through the NFL's return to Mexico City in Week 11.
| Date | Matchup | Location | Kickoff (ET) |
| Sept. 10 (Week 1) | San Francisco 49ers vs. Los Angeles Rams | Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne, Australia | 8:35 p.m. |
| Sept. 27 (Week 3) | Baltimore Ravens vs. Dallas Cowboys | Maracanã Stadium, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | 4:25 p.m. |
| Oct. 4 (Week 4) | Indianapolis Colts vs. Washington Commanders | Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London, U.K. | 9:30 a.m. |
| Oct. 11 (Week 5) | Philadelphia Eagles vs. Jacksonville Jaguars | Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London, U.K. | 9:30 a.m. |
| Oct. 18 (Week 6) | Houston Texans vs. Jacksonville Jaguars | Wembley Stadium, London, U.K. | 9:30 a.m. |
| Oct. 25 (Week 7) | Pittsburgh Steelers vs. New Orleans Saints | Stade de France, Paris, France | 9:30 a.m. |
| Nov. 8 (Week 9) | Cincinnati Bengals vs. Atlanta Falcons | Bernabéu Stadium, Madrid, Spain | 9:30 a.m. |
| Nov. 15 (Week 10) | New England Patriots vs. Detroit Lions | FC Bayern Munich Arena, Munich, Germany | 9:30 a.m. |
| Nov. 22 (Week 11) | Minnesota Vikings vs. San Francisco 49ers | Estadio Banorte, Mexico City, Mexico | 8:20 p.m. |
Jacksonville and San Francisco each play two International Series games in 2026. The Jaguars play consecutive weeks in London, while the 49ers open their season in Australia before playing in Mexico City later in the year. Those unusual scheduling situations are examples of why bettors should consider more than the matchup itself when evaluating international games.
NFL London Games
London is the NFL's most established international market. The city has hosted regular-season games every year since 2007 other than 2020, when the league did not play international games.
Multiple London venues have hosted the NFL over the years, with Wembley Stadium and Tottenham Hotspur Stadium becoming the primary locations. Some teams have also developed far more experience in London than others, most notably the Jacksonville Jaguars.
London games are typically played on Sunday afternoon in the United Kingdom, which creates a morning kickoff in much of the United States. That unusual time slot is another difference for bettors accustomed to the standard Sunday NFL schedule.
London's long history with the NFL can provide useful context, particularly for teams that have played there multiple times. However, previous London records shouldn't outweigh the current matchup, travel arrangements, rest, injuries, or surrounding schedule.
Other NFL International Series Games in Europe
The NFL's European footprint now extends well beyond London.
Germany has hosted regular-season games in Munich, Frankfurt, and Berlin, while Madrid hosted the NFL's first regular-season game in Spain in 2025. Dublin also joined the regular-season schedule in 2025, and Paris hosts its first game in 2026.
Future expansion could bring the NFL to even more European cities. While travel from the United States may be broadly similar for some destinations, stadiums, playing surfaces, weather, kickoff times, and team preparation can differ.
Bettors should therefore evaluate the specific destination instead of treating every European game as though it presents the same conditions.
NFL International Series Games Outside Europe
The international schedule has also expanded across the Americas and into Australia.
Mexico City has hosted multiple regular-season NFL games, while Brazil joined the schedule with a game in São Paulo in 2024. Rio de Janeiro hosts its first game in 2026, and Melbourne becomes the site of the NFL's first regular-season game in Australia.
These destinations show why international games shouldn't be treated as a single category. Traveling from the United States to Australia can involve a much larger time-zone adjustment than traveling to London, while Mexico City's elevation presents a consideration that doesn't exist at most other international venues.
As the NFL continues its international expansion, bettors should start with the characteristics of the actual destination rather than making assumptions based simply on a game being played outside the United States.
How to Handicap and Bet on NFL International Series Games
The basic process for handicapping an NFL game doesn't change when it moves overseas. Team quality, matchups, injuries, statistics, and the available odds should remain at the center of your analysis.
International Series games do, however, add some unusual variables. Evaluating them in context can help determine whether they should meaningfully affect your handicap.
Evaluate Travel, Time Zones, and Acclimation
Travel is one of the most obvious differences between an international game and a normal NFL matchup, but distance alone doesn't tell the entire story.
Consider where each team is traveling from, how many time zones it crosses, when it arrives at the destination, and how much time players have to acclimate before kickoff. A trip from the East Coast to London isn't the same as a trip from the West Coast to Europe, and neither is comparable to traveling across the Pacific to Australia.
Arrival timing can be particularly useful context. Teams may take different approaches to international travel, with some arriving earlier to adjust to the local time and others maintaining as much of their normal weekly routine as possible. Because information about travel plans and preparation can emerge throughout the week, it can also become one factor to consider when deciding when to place your bets.
Don't assume the team traveling farther is automatically disadvantaged. Consider the journey alongside arrival timing, preparation, and the number of time zones crossed. What matters for the handicap is whether one team faces a meaningful adjustment that the other does not.
Time zones can also affect how unusual the game is from a team's perspective. A morning kickoff in the United States may be an afternoon game locally, while a game on another continent can create a much more dramatic shift in players' normal sleep and preparation schedules.
Consider the Schedule Before and After the Game
The international trip itself is only one part of the equation. Where the game falls within each team's NFL schedule can provide equally important context.
Look at what each team did the previous week. A team beginning an international trip after a home game may face a different situation from one already coming off a road game. Consider rest advantages, short weeks, consecutive road games, and the team's recent travel workload.
The schedule after an NFL International Series game matters as well. Teams have sometimes received a bye immediately after playing overseas, but that isn't automatic. Some return to action the following week, while unusual situations can include teams playing consecutive international games.
Rather than assuming an overseas trip will create fatigue, evaluate the complete scheduling situation. One team may have a favorable setup with additional rest on one side of the game, while its opponent may be navigating a more demanding stretch.
Injuries can add another layer. Players dealing with physical issues may have to manage a long flight and disrupted routine in addition to preparing for the game, making it especially important to monitor NFL injury reports as kickoff approaches.
International games are also a good example of why the surrounding schedule deserves a place in your weekly NFL betting checklist. Rest, travel, injuries, and other circumstances can change throughout the week and may deserve another look before you finalize a bet.
Account for the Venue and Local Conditions
The words "international game" describe where a matchup is being played, not the conditions in which it will be played.
International venues can differ significantly. Some games are played in soccer stadiums, while others take place in multipurpose venues. Playing surfaces and stadium configurations can vary, and teams may have little or no previous experience at the venue.
Weather is another location-specific consideration. Conditions in London, Munich, Madrid, São Paulo, Melbourne, and other international destinations won't necessarily resemble one another. Understanding weather's impact on betting can help you determine whether wind, rain, heat, or other conditions deserve additional weight in your handicap.
Mexico City provides an especially distinctive example because of its elevation. Playing more than 7,000 feet above sea level can affect conditioning and potentially kicking distance, making the venue itself part of the handicap.
Home-field advantage also deserves additional scrutiny. One team may be designated as the home team, but playing in London, Madrid, Mexico City, or another international venue isn't the same as playing in its own stadium. Crowd support can vary by matchup, and neither team may have the familiarity that normally comes with a home game.
These factors shouldn't be exaggerated simply because the setting is unusual. Bettors should determine whether the playing surface, weather conditions, elevation, or another venue characteristic is likely to affect the teams or particular aspects of the matchup.
Reliable NFL betting resources can help you monitor venue information, forecasts, injuries, and other developments before deciding how much weight to give local conditions.
Put International Experience in Context
As the league plays more International Series games, some teams have accumulated considerably more experience playing outside the United States than others.
The Jacksonville Jaguars are the clearest example because of their longstanding connection with London. Other franchises have made multiple international appearances, while some teams and players have relatively little experience with overseas games.
That experience may have value. An organization familiar with international travel may have established routines for flights, practices, accommodations, recovery, and preparation. Coaches or players who have made similar trips before may also know what to expect.
Historical results are less useful on their own. A team's international record can span different coaches, quarterbacks, rosters, opponents, and venues. A winning record in London doesn't mean the current team has an inherent advantage the next time it plays there.
Apply the same caution to betting trends and statistical splits. International experience becomes more meaningful when you can identify a reason it may help the current team, such as established travel and preparation routines. Relevant NFL stats and metrics, team strength, injuries, and the available odds should still carry more weight than an international win-loss record.
Conclusion
NFL International Series games have become a regular and expanding part of the league's schedule, taking teams to an increasingly diverse collection of countries, cities, and stadiums.
The fundamentals of NFL betting remain the same regardless of where a game is played. Start with the teams and matchup, then determine whether travel, time zones, acclimation, schedule placement, venue conditions, or international experience meaningfully change your assessment.
Don't assume playing internationally automatically favors or hurts either team. Evaluate the specific circumstances surrounding the matchup and treat them as additional pieces of the handicap. The goal remains finding value in the available NFL odds on an outcome supported by your analysis.
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