NFL Agrees to Host Games at Estadio Banorte in Mexico, dazn.com Reports

The NFL has reached an agreement to host a regular-season game at Mexico’s Estadio Banorte for three consecutive seasons in 2026, 2027, and 2028, dazn.com reported. The multi-year commitment anchors the league in its largest international market outside the United States, where the organization estimates it maintains a base of roughly 40 million fans.

Minnesota Vikings and San Francisco 49ers Set for November 2026 Kickoff

The opening fixture of the three-year arrangement will feature the Minnesota Vikings playing against the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday, November 22, 2026. Kickoff is scheduled for 19:20 local time in Mexico, corresponding to 2:20 in the early morning of Monday, November 23, in peninsular Spain, according to dazn.com. San Francisco enters the Week 11 matchup as the designated home team.

The upcoming games in 2027 and 2028 remain unannounced by league officials. This return marks the first regular-season contest in the country since November 21, 2022, when the 49ers defeated the Arizona Cardinals on Monday Night Football.

Stadium Renovations and Historical Ties to Estadio Banorte

The absence of NFL fixtures in Mexico since 2022 stemmed from extensive renovations at the historic Estadio Azteca ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, dazn.com reported. Now rebranded as Estadio Banorte, the venue has hosted five regular-season NFL games in 2005, 2016, 2017, 2019, and 2022.

The venue holds a unique place in league history. The 2005 matchup between the Arizona Cardinals and the San Francisco 49ers stands as the first regular-season NFL game ever played outside the United States. The 2016 contest between the Oakland Raiders and the Houston Texans marked the first Monday Night Football game held outside American borders.

Commercial Operations and Flag Football Expansion Plans

Beyond the stadium schedule, the NFL maintains a permanent office in Mexico established in 1998 to manage commercial partnerships, media operations, and youth programs. Ten franchises currently hold commercial rights in the country through the Global Markets Program, which permits participating clubs to execute local marketing, events, and merchandise sales.

The league also utilizes grassroots initiatives to build participation, noting that the NFL Flag program, launched locally in 2000, is projected to reach approximately 3.3 million children in Mexico by 2026, dazn.com reported. This expansion aligns with the debut of flag football as an official discipline at the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.