San Francisco 49ers to Play in 2026 NFL Mexico Game

49ers to be one of the participating teams for the return to Estadio Banorte

Feb. 22, 2026 at 5:07am by Ben Kaplan

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The National Football League has announced that the San Francisco 49ers will be one of the participating teams for the upcoming 2026 NFL Mexico City game, presented by Banorte. The game in Mexico will be one of a record nine international games in 2026 across four continents, seven countries and eight stadiums and will be played at the iconic Estadio Banorte as part of a multi-year commitment to playing games in Mexico City in 2026, 2027 and 2028.

Why it matters

The return of regular season NFL games in Mexico builds on the league's history of playing five previous games at Estadio Banorte, highlighting the league's strong, ongoing commitment to Mexico and the growth of the game internationally. With 40 million fans of the NFL, the largest fanbase outside of the U.S., the league is focused on increasing year-round presence through fan engagement, community impact, and growing the game at every level.

The details

The 49ers are one of 10 teams that hold marketing rights in Mexico as part of the league's Global Markets Program, an initiative that awards NFL clubs international marketing rights to build brand awareness and fandom beyond the U.S. The 49ers have previously played in Mexico City in 2005 and 2022, with the team excited to "reunite with the Mexico Faithful" and look forward to the energy local fans will bring in creating a true home-field advantage.

  • The 2026 NFL Mexico City game will be played at Estadio Banorte.
  • The game will be part of a multi-year commitment to playing games in Mexico City in 2026, 2027 and 2028.

The players

Arturo Olive

NFL Director General.

Al Guido

San Francisco 49ers CEO.

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What they’re saying

“We're delighted to host the San Francisco 49ers once again in Mexico City for the 2026 NFL Mexico Game. Returning to Estadio Banorte highlights our strong, ongoing commitment to Mexico. Few places generate the kind of energy we see here, and we look forward to being back in a country that plays such a meaningful role in the growth of our game.”

— Arturo Olive, NFL Director General

“We are thrilled to return to Mexico and to play in front of one of the most passionate fan bases in the league. After two unforgettable experiences in 2005 and 2022 in Mexico City, we're excited to reunite with the Mexico Faithful and look forward to the energy local fans will bring in creating a true home-field advantage for our team abroad.”

— Al Guido, San Francisco 49ers CEO

What’s next

The 49ers' opponent, along with the game date and kickoff time, will be announced when the full 2026 NFL schedule is revealed this spring.

The takeaway

The 49ers' return to Mexico City for the 2026 NFL game highlights the league's continued commitment to growing the sport internationally, particularly in Mexico where the NFL has a strong and passionate fanbase. This game will provide the 49ers with a unique home-field advantage as they look to build on their previous success in Mexico City.