Europe’s last two NFL games of 2026 are now 11 and 18 days away, and most of the week-long programme around them is set. Detroit is taking a full fan festival to Munich, with Big Sean and techno pioneer Kevin Saunderson playing free concerts at Odeonsplatz. In Madrid the league is setting up its fan zone at Plaza de España, and the Falcons will be based at Real Madrid’s training ground.
The newest detail came from the Allianz Arena on Tuesday night. The stadium will be closed to visitors from November 11 to 14 and again on November 16, the day after the game, because its car parks are being used for fan events and renovation work. Parking on game day will cost €20, with permits expected to go on sale on November 2.
Detroit’s Munich game-week plan, posted by the Lions.
Munich: the Lions bring Detroit to Odeonsplatz
The Lions play their first international game in a decade on Sunday, November 15, when they host New England at FC Bayern Munich Arena. Kickoff is 3:30 p.m. Munich time, 4:30 p.m. in Cairo, and 9:30 a.m. Eastern. It is the third regular-season game in Munich and the sixth in Germany. Our Munich countdown covers why the city is on the calendar.
The centrepiece is a two-day Lions Fan Fest at Odeonsplatz, the square below the Feldherrnhalle in the old town, on Friday, November 13 and Saturday, November 14. Gates open at 11 a.m. both days, and the club calls it “Ford Field on the Road.” Each day has family games, giveaways, photo spots, beer and food trucks, and appearances by Lions legends, cheerleaders and mascots, including Leo Löwe, the German-flag-maned mascot the club introduced for its fans in the region.
Both evenings end with a Detroit headliner at 5 p.m. local time, 6 p.m. in Cairo. Kevin Saunderson, one of the founders of Detroit techno, plays on Friday and rapper Big Sean on Saturday. Eminem’s restaurant Mom’s Spaghetti will run a pop-up food truck on both days, with s’ghetti sandwiches and limited-edition Lions merchandise. The Saturday guest list includes the foundation run by Amon-Ra St. Brown, Detroit’s German-American receiver, and Friday’s includes the club’s international fans of the year.
Entry to Fan Fest is free, but the Lions are asking fans to claim access through One Pride Worldwide, their new global membership hub, which opened free sign-ups on October 21. The club also says some activities may close if the weather turns bad, which is a real risk in Munich in mid-November.
The Lions’ call for fans to claim free Fan Fest access.
Away from the square, the Hofbräuhaus will become the Lions’ official fan pub from Thursday, November 12 to game day, open from 11 a.m. to midnight with daily entertainment and appearances. There is a pop-up Lions shop at the Marc O’Polo store on Theatinerstraße from November 9 to 16, and a second one at Fan Fest. On game day the Lions will have their own area inside the league’s fan experience at the stadium.
New England, who played in Frankfurt in 2023, has been building toward the trip since July with its “Legendary Tour” of Germany. The tour has stopped at the DTM races at the Norisring and Hockenheimring, the MotoGP round at the Sachsenring and the flag football world championships in Düsseldorf. It ends in Munich from November 13 to 15, where fans can see Patriots Hall of Fame exhibits and stand on a piece of turf from Gillette Stadium. The club has not yet given the exact location.
Munich: who plays before kickoff and at halftime
The Bavarian brass band LaBrassBanda, from the Chiemgau and known for mixing traditional brass with ska and funk, will play the German anthem. Country singer Drew Baldridge, whose “She’s Somebody’s Daughter” reached the Billboard Hot 100 in its reimagined version, will sing the U.S. anthem. Baldridge called it “a very special opportunity” and said he was “incredibly honoured to represent America on an international stage.” Cage The Elephant headline halftime, as listed in our guide to the season’s seven international halftime shows. In Germany, RTL and Sky Sport will show the whole halftime performance live.
The league announces the Munich anthem singers.
The league’s German office is also choosing 20 children to form the guard of honour when the teams run out, through a competition for parents that includes two tickets. Ahead of the game, it took partners and influencers to an NFL evening at this year’s Oktoberfest.
The league’s German account at the Oktoberfest before the Munich game.
Getting to the Munich game
The stadium’s own notice has the practical details. Only car parks P3 (from 9 a.m.) and P2 (from 10 a.m.) will be open to fans on game day, and P1 and P0 will need a special permit. Taxis must use the south coach park, the motorbike area stays closed, and there is no space for vehicles taller than two metres. Motorhomes and campervans cannot park at the stadium at all from November 7 to 18. From November 7 to 10, building work at the north coach park means visitors should use the visitors’ car park. Most fans will take the U6 underground line to Fröttmaning, as at Bayern matches. The league sends digital tickets by email at least 72 hours before kickoff.
| Date | City | Event | Local time | Cairo time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mon Nov 9 – Mon Nov 16 | Munich | Lions fan shop at Marc O’Polo, Theatinerstraße 11 (closed on game day) | 10:00–19:00 | 11:00–20:00 |
| Wed Nov 11 – Sat Nov 14 | Munich | Allianz Arena closed to all visitors, car parks shut | All day | All day |
| Thu Nov 12 – Sun Nov 15 | Munich | Lions fan pub at the Hofbräuhaus, Platzl 9 | 11:00–00:00 | 12:00–01:00 |
| Fri Nov 13 | Munich | Lions Fan Fest at Odeonsplatz; Kevin Saunderson concert | 11:00–18:00; concert 17:00 | 12:00–19:00; concert 18:00 |
| Sat Nov 14 | Munich | Lions Fan Fest at Odeonsplatz; Big Sean concert | 11:00–18:00; concert 17:00 | 12:00–19:00; concert 18:00 |
| Fri Nov 13 – Sun Nov 15 | Munich | Patriots “Legendary Tour” final stop (Hall of Fame exhibits, Gillette Stadium turf) | Times not yet published | — |
| Sun Nov 15 | Munich | Car parks P3 (from 09:00) and P2 (from 10:00) open, €20 | 09:00 / 10:00 | 10:00 / 11:00 |
| Sun Nov 15 | Munich | Patriots vs. Lions, FC Bayern Munich Arena (Lions are the home team) | Kickoff 15:30 | Kickoff 16:30 |
Madrid: Plaza de España, Valdebebas and Las Rozas
Madrid comes first. The Falcons host the Bengals at the Bernabéu on Sunday, November 8, at 3:30 p.m. Madrid time, 4:30 p.m. in Cairo, in Week 9. It is the second regular-season game in Spain, a year after Miami beat Washington 16–13 at the same stadium. Pablo Sáinz-Villegas and Taylor Momsen will play the anthems, as reported in our Madrid anthems story, and Manuel Turizo headlines halftime.
Unlike some clubs that have flown in late for overseas games this year, both teams plan to spend most of the week in Madrid. Spanish reports say the Falcons will train at Valdebebas, Real Madrid’s training ground near Barajas airport, and the Bengals at the Ciudad del Fútbol in Las Rozas, the Spanish national team’s base. Each travelling party could be close to 150 people, and players are expected to speak to the media at those sites after practice. Last year Miami practised at Atlético Madrid’s stadium.
Real Madrid is running prize draws for its members tied to the game. The prizes include a place at a Falcons practice at Valdebebas with a meet-and-greet with a former player on Friday, November 6, and a flag football clinic with league coaches for children aged 8 to 14 at Plaza de España on Saturday, November 7. The league’s fan experience at Plaza de España runs on Friday and Saturday, with a mini flag field, games, food and photo spots. One of them is a Bengals-themed Menina, part of the city’s public sculptures based on Velázquez’s 1656 painting.
Cincinnati has an official party at Florida Park in the Retiro on Friday night and has made Ocean Rock Bar its official fan bar, with a meet-up on Saturday and a watch party from 1:30 p.m. on Sunday for fans without tickets. The Falcons’ “Casa de los Falcons” is at the Irish Rover on Avenida de Brasil, close to the stadium, with legends, mascots and cheerleaders. Atlanta fans will walk together to the Bernabéu from Mira Miranda on the Castellana, leaving at 1 p.m. sharp.
This crowd will be even more international than last year’s. The resale site Viagogo said this month that 81.3% of its Madrid buyers live outside Spain and 43.7% are buying for their first NFL game. In Spain the anthems, the game and the full halftime show will be on Cuatro, which is free to air, as well as DAZN and Mediaset Infinity. In the U.S., the game is on the league’s own cable channel and WLWT in Cincinnati. The Bernabéu is on the Castellana, served by Metro line 10 at Santiago Bernabéu station, and the club advises arriving at least 90 minutes before kickoff. The stadium is smoke-free and the league’s standard bag policy applies.
| Date | City | Event | Local time | Cairo time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fri Nov 6 | Madrid | Falcons practice and meet-and-greet at Real Madrid’s Valdebebas training ground (club-member prize draw) | Not published | — |
| Fri Nov 6 – Sat Nov 7 | Madrid | NFL fan experience at Plaza de España: mini flag field, games, food, a Bengals-themed Menina sculpture | Not published | — |
| Fri Nov 6 | Madrid | Official Bengals party at Florida Park in the Retiro | 20:00–23:00 | 21:00–00:00 |
| Sat Nov 7 | Madrid | Flag football clinic for children aged 8–14 at Plaza de España (prize draw) | 12:00–12:55 | 13:00–13:55 |
| Sun Nov 8 | Madrid | Falcons fans’ walk to the stadium from Mira Miranda, Paseo de la Castellana | 13:00 | 14:00 |
| Sun Nov 8 | Madrid | Bengals watch party at Ocean Rock Bar | From 13:30 | From 14:30 |
| Sun Nov 8 | Madrid | Bengals vs. Falcons, Bernabéu (Falcons are the home team) | Kickoff 15:30 | Kickoff 16:30 |
Where the four teams stand
Entering Week 8, Cincinnati is 4–2 and holds the AFC’s last wild card after its 35–13 comeback win in Baltimore, while Atlanta is 3–4 after beating previously unbeaten San Francisco 29–20. Detroit is 4–2 and in an NFC wild-card spot after Jake Bates’ walk-off kick beat Green Bay. New England is 4–3 and the AFC’s first team out, according to our playoff picture entering Week 8. All four teams play again in Week 8 this weekend, so those standings will move before either trip.
The international slate ends a week after Munich, when Minnesota and San Francisco play the first Sunday-night game outside the United States at Estadio Banorte in Mexico City on November 22. Kickoff is 7:20 p.m. local time, which is 3:20 a.m. Monday in Cairo; our Mexico City countdown has the background. All the Cairo times above follow Egypt’s return to standard time this week, explained in our clock-change guide.
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