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The NFL will play a record nine international games in the 2026 season, spanning four different continents and seven countries, and starting with a stop in Melbourne, Australia.
The Los Angeles Rams and San Francisco 49ers will play the first ever game in Australia, but it will be played at 10:35 am local time on Friday September 11 to coincide with the Thursday night game at 8:35 pm ET in the US.
As the NFL continues its push to reach more millions around the world, there is a question: what are the players thinking about it, especially those who will be in situations like the Rams and 49ers in September?
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ESPN analyst Cam Newton is on the set of “First Take” on Feb. 6, 2026 in San Francisco, California. (Aaron M. Sprecher/Getty Images)
Former NFL MVP Cam Newton was unable to play overseas, as he suffered a Lisfranc injury while his team was going to play in the United Kingdom. However, he believes that, from the NFL’s business perspective, a global push makes the most sense.
“I think what the NFL does is almost like a brand. It’s a business,” he said. “As we’re having this business conversation, they understand the magnitude of growing the game of football. They’re doing it in a way with a full-touch football, but they’re also doing it in another sense, that comes almost naturally, with the variable flag.
According to the International Federation of American Football, there are 2.4 million children under the age of 17 who play organized flag football in the US.
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As a result, international fans of all ages are included in the NFL game, and NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and the entire league office have made a strong effort to allow those fans to see the NFL live in their countries.
“A lot of different people of different colors, creeds, and genders, can participate in the flag game. I think the NFL understands the importance, like what the NBA has been for decades now. They’re just trying to explore and expand the NFL brand.”
Apart from Melbourne, there will be three games in London, while Paris, Rio de Janeiro, Munich, Madrid and Mexico City will host the NFL in 2026.
Cam Newton on the radio line at the Super Bowl LIX media center on Feb. 7, 2025. (Kirby Lee/Images)
It could be good business for the NFL, but legendary sports agent Leigh Steinberg said in a recent interview with Fox News Digital that players have “mixed feelings” about traveling overseas.
“They actually like the way to travel, to see different cultures and other things,” Steinberg said. “But it takes a lot of physical effort. I mean, flying off [the West Coast] to London 12 hours. Then, to fly back, 14 hours. The further east you go in Europe, the longer it gets. Therefore, it takes a physical toll.
“I think if you ask the coaches, they don’t like international games, because it takes them out of the way and schedule.”
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Newton may no longer be on the field, but he remains a fixture on the NFL and all other sports through his content creation, most notably his shows “Funky Friday” and “4th & 1 with Cam Newton” as part of his Iconic Saga Productions.
Newton and his production team announced a major partnership with Offscript Worldwide, a creator-owned ecosystem that brings together culture-shaping brands and platforms under one roof, including REVOLT Sports and 3BlackDot.
Offscript revealed this new partnership at the 2026 IAB NewFronts, where they will begin working with Newton’s powerhouse, syndicate his hit shows and expand the reach of athlete-driven storytelling to global brands.
J Balvin’s Cam Newton looks on against Druski during the Super Bowl LX YouTube Celebrity Football Game at Moscone Center South on Feb. 7, 2026 in San Francisco, California. (Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
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“When you really think about Offscript, it’s like an ecosystem that encompasses many different aspects of our lives, from sports, to culture, to lifestyle and many different things,” Newton explained. “That change for me wasn’t sudden. Instead of training to be the best soccer player, or the best athlete. Now, I’m training to be the best content creator I can be.
“I’ve always wanted to be someone’s beacon, in many ways, I thought I was going. I’m very happy that Offscript is giving me and Iconic Saga the opportunity to continue to believe in our vision, and we can’t do these things without great partners like this.”
As the partnership begins, Newton will also be driving the “4th & 1st College Tailgate Experience,” visiting HBCUs across the US to celebrate their heritage and shine a light nationally on the student-athletes, academic programs, and unique game day culture that defines what it means to be an HBCU.
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