NFL season opens with Super Bowl rematch

The 2026 National Football League season is set to commence on Wednesday, September 9, with a Super Bowl rematch between the Seattle Seahawks and the New England Patriots. This marks the first time since 2012 that the NFL season has opened on a Wednesday. The Seahawks will raise their championship banner before hosting the Patriots in Seattle. Simultaneously, the league is embarking on its most ambitious international expansion, with the first-ever NFL regular-season game to be played in Australia scheduled for Thursday, September 10. The San Francisco 49ers will face the Los Angeles Rams at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. This historic game is part of a record nine international fixtures planned across four continents for the upcoming season, which will also include games in Rio de Janeiro, London, Paris, Madrid, Munich, and Mexico City. The road to Super Bowl LXI, slated for February 14, 2027, in Los Angeles, appears wide open following an offseason marked by significant roster reshuffling and coaching changes. The Rams, considered early favorites, bolstered their defense by acquiring Myles Garrett from Cleveland and saw Aaron Donald return from retirement.