NFL owners approve increase in max number of international games
The NFL has nine international games in 2026 and owners approved a max number of international games to 10 per year.
More international games are soon to come for the NFL and surely the Arizona Cardinals . At the league's spring meeting in Orlando, Florida, owners voted 32-0 to approve allowing up to 10 international games a year. There will be an unprecedented nine in the 2026 season.
Owners also approved a measure that eliminated all protections to eliminate certain opponents for international games, essentially making any matchup a potential international matchup. The moves are a step in the direction that many feel will be inevitable — an 18-game regular-season with 16 international games, with every team playing in one. Such moves are good for the league's bottom line, which ultimately is good for players, as they get a percentage of revenues.
It is good for fans abroad and for the league in terms of growing its popularity. It does make it tough for the coaches and players, but it comes with the possibility of an experience abroad these players might not normally have. The Cardinals do not have an international game this coming season and has not been in an international games since they played the San Francisco 49ers in Mexico City in 2022.
Their time is coming. Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire's Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify , YouTube or Apple podcasts .