The NFL has released its schedule for international games in the 2026 season, and the Seattle Seahawks weren't on the list. That's a good thing, as most of the games begin at 6:30 am PT, and that's too early for football. Not playing internationally this season, though, could have repercussions in 2028.
That's because, according to social media handle OzzyNFL (which did have a lot of intel, somehow, on who would be playing overseas in 2026), the Seahawks and New York Giants are "guaranteed" to host an international game in 2028. All teams are required to host an international game, and Seattle and New York are now the only NFC teams to do so.
The AFC and NFC alternate years of hosting games abroad, and in 2026, the Los Angeles Rams, Dallas Cowboys, Washington Commanders, New Orleans Saints, Atlanta Falcons, Detroit Lions, and San Francisco 49ers are hosting. NFC teams have already hosted games in 2022 and 2024, too.
Seattle Seahawks certain to host an international game in 2028
The Jacksonville Jaguars also host two games this year, but the Jags host London games every year due to owner Shahid Khan's ties to Tottenham and London. In other words, Jacksonville doesn't count in the overall scheme of which conference is hosting in which year.
Seattle knows many of the teams it will play two seasons from now due to the ongoing rotation of division versus division. In 2028, the Seahawks will take on the teams from the NFC South and AFC East, as well as facing the other NFC West teams twice each.
The only thing not known is which place in the division in 2027 Seattle will finish. If it's first, they will have a first-place schedule, just as they do next season from taking the NFC West crown last season.
The last time the Seattle Seahawks played internationally, they faced an NFC South team, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Bucs won the game in November 2022, which took place in Munich, Germany. Tom Brady was quarterbacking Tampa Bay, and Geno Smith was in his first season as Seattle's full-time QB1. Times have changed.
What 12s can assume is that wherever the Seahawks play in 2028 (Australia? Europe? South America?), Sam Darnold will be the quarterback, Mike Macdonald will be the head coach, Jaxon Smith-Njigba will be a star wide receiver, and the team will be very good. That is almost certainly the one thing that can be counted on two seasons from now.
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