| Keyword |
Description |
| Renovation |
The process of improving or rebuilding a structure, like updating a stadium to make it more modern and comfortable |
| Capacity |
The maximum number of people that a place, such as a stadium, can hold |
| Brand |
The image, identity and reputation of a team or company that helps it stand out and attract fans or customers |
The San Francisco 49ers will play a regular-season NFL game in Mexico City in December 2026, as the league officially returns to the country after several years away. The game will be held at the renovated Azteca Stadium, now called Estadio Banorte after a 12‑year naming-rights deal that helped pay for the upgrades. The opponent, exact date and kickoff time will only be revealed when the full 2026 NFL schedule is announced in the spring, but the 49ers have already been named the home team. The NFL has also confirmed that it will return to Mexico City again in 2027 and 2028, showing that Mexico is a long‑term part of the league’s international plans.
This will be the 49ers’ third regular‑season game in Mexico City and their history here is already interesting. In 2005, they lost 31–14 to the Arizona Cardinals in what was the first NFL regular‑season game ever played outside the United States, in front of a then‑record crowd of 103,467 people. That record was later broken in 2009 by a Dallas Cowboys game with 105,121 fans, and Azteca Stadium was eventually remodeled with VIP boxes, wider aisles and individual seats, which reduced its capacity by around 20,000 seats. In 2022, the 49ers came back and beat the Cardinals 38–10, playing in front of 78,427 fans and adding another big memory for Mexican NFL followers.
Mexico City has already hosted five regular‑season NFL games, including matchups in 2016, 2017 and 2019 that all attracted crowds in the mid‑70,000s. At one point, the league was expected to return in 2025, but that plan fell apart and the NFL skipped Mexico again. Now, the 2026 season will feature a record nine international regular‑season games across four continents, in cities like Madrid, Munich, Melbourne, Paris, Rio de Janeiro, London and Mexico City. For fans, this shows how the NFL is trying to become a global sports brand instead of staying focused only on the U.S. market.
The 49ers are one of ten teams with official marketing rights in Mexico as part of the NFL’s Global Markets Program, which aims to build stronger fan bases around the world. Team executives say the players are excited to reconnect with their Mexican supporters, who are often called the “Mexico Faithful.” Possible opponents mentioned in the media include the Arizona Cardinals, Los Angeles Rams and Miami Dolphins, although nothing is confirmed yet. The 49ers will also make history by becoming the first NFL team to play two international games in nonconsecutive weeks in the same season, since they are already scheduled to face the Rams at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Australia in Week 1 of 2026.
Bridging words
These words sound similar in English and Spanish: Why not practice them now?
| English |
Spanish |
| Announced |
Anunciado |
| League |
Liga |
| Market |
Mercado |
Time to discuss
- Should the NFL play more regular‑season games outside the United States?
- Is it fair for a team to lose one home game in its own city to play in another country?
- Do international games really help create new fans for American football?
Let's write
Answer the following questions in one paragraph:
- How could NFL games in Mexico City change the way young people in Mexico think about American football?
- Do you think it is good or bad when sports leagues focus on becoming global brands? Explain your opinion.
