The NFL’s presence in London has grown from an international experiment into one of the league’s most established traditions outside the United States.
As of September 30, 2026, 42 NFL regular-season games have been played in London. With three more London games scheduled during the 2026 NFL season, that number is set to reach 45 games by the end of the 2026 London series.
When Was the First NFL Regular-Season Game in London?
The first NFL regular-season game played in London took place on October 28, 2007, when the New York Giants defeated the Miami Dolphins 13-10 at Wembley Stadium.
The matchup was an important milestone in the NFL’s international expansion. Rather than staging only preseason exhibitions overseas, the league demonstrated that regular-season games could attract significant interest from fans in the United Kingdom.
London subsequently became the primary international destination for NFL regular-season games.
How Many NFL Games Have Been Played in London?
Through September 30, 2026:
NFL regular-season games played in London: 42
Three additional games are scheduled for October 2026, which would increase the total to:
45 NFL regular-season games in London
That figure counts games actually played in London and does not include NFL International Series games held in other countries.
2026 NFL London Games
The NFL has three London games scheduled for the 2026 regular season:
October 4, 2026
Indianapolis Colts vs. Washington Commanders
Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
October 11, 2026
Philadelphia Eagles vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
October 18, 2026
Houston Texans vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
Wembley Stadium
Once those three games are completed, London will have hosted 45 NFL regular-season games since 2007.
Which Stadiums Host NFL Games in London?
London’s NFL games have primarily been played at three stadiums during the International Series era:
Wembley Stadium
Wembley was the site of the first NFL regular-season game in London in 2007 and remains closely associated with the league’s expansion into the United Kingdom.
Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
Tottenham Hotspur Stadium was designed with NFL games in mind and features a retractable soccer pitch with a separate artificial playing surface underneath for American football.
It has become one of the NFL’s primary venues in London.
Twickenham Stadium
The NFL has also previously staged regular-season games at Twickenham, traditionally known as the home of English rugby.
Why Does the NFL Play Games in London?
London is an important part of the NFL’s strategy to expand the league’s international audience.
Regular-season games give fans in the United Kingdom an opportunity to experience NFL football without traveling to the United States while also allowing the league and its teams to build larger international fan bases.
The success of the London series has also helped pave the way for NFL regular-season games in additional international markets.
Have NFL Games Been Played in London Every Year Since 2007?
Not every year.
The NFL began playing regular-season games in London in 2007, but the London series was interrupted in 2020, when international games were not played.
The league returned to London during the 2021 season and has continued scheduling regular-season games there.
Could London Eventually Get an NFL Team?
The continued success of the NFL International Series has generated years of discussion about whether London could eventually become home to a permanent NFL franchise.
However, hosting several regular-season games each year is considerably different from operating a full-time NFL franchise overseas. Scheduling, travel, player logistics, divisional alignment and stadium arrangements would all need to be addressed.
For now, London’s role remains centered around hosting selected regular-season games as part of the NFL’s expanding international schedule.
NFL London Games Continue to Grow
What started with Giants-Dolphins at Wembley Stadium in 2007 has developed into a major part of the NFL calendar.
As of September 30, 2026, 42 NFL regular-season games have been played in London. With three more scheduled in October, London is on track to reach 45 NFL regular-season games by the conclusion of the 2026 series.
More than two decades after the NFL began seriously expanding its international footprint, London remains one of the league’s most important markets outside the United States.