| Keyword |
Description |
| Opponent |
The team you play against in a game |
| Schedule |
The official plan that shows the dates and times of all the games |
| Awareness |
When more people start to know about or pay attention to something, like a team or a sport |
The San Francisco 49ers will come back to Mexico City in 2026 to play an official NFL game at the Azteca Stadium, now called Estadio Banorte after its big makeover. The 49ers will be the home team, but the opponent and exact date will be announced later, when the full 2026 schedule comes out. We only know that the game will be in December and that the NFL has already promised to return to Mexico City again in 2027 and 2028, showing that the league wants to stay connected with Mexican fans.
This game will be the 49ers’ third regular‑season game in Mexico City. In 2005, they played the Arizona Cardinals and lost 31–14 in the first NFL regular‑season game ever played outside the United States, with more than 100,000 people in the stadium. In 2022, they faced the Cardinals again and won 38–10 in front of over 78,000 fans, adding another huge moment for Mexican NFL followers. Mexico City has already hosted five regular‑season NFL games, including games in 2016, 2017 and 2019, and each one brought in big crowds.
The NFL is also planning more games around the world, not just in Mexico. In 2026, there will be nine international regular‑season games in cities like Madrid, Munich, Melbourne, Paris, Rio de Janeiro and London, as well as Mexico City. The 49ers are one of ten teams that have special marketing rights in Mexico, which means they can focus on growing their fan base here through the NFL’s Global Markets Program. They will also make history by playing another international game in Australia against the Los Angeles Rams in Week 1 of the 2026 season, becoming the first team to play two international games in non‑consecutive weeks in one year.
Bridging words
These words sound similar in English and Spanish: Why not practice them now?
| English |
Spanish |
| Opponent |
Oponente |
| Moment |
Momento |
| Marketing |
Mercadotecnia |
Time to discuss
- Is it good for Mexican fans that the NFL plays games in Mexico City?
- Should the NFL play more games in other countries or stay mostly in the U.S.?
- Do you think international games make teenagers more interested in American football?
Let's write
Answer the following questions in one paragraph:
- How would you feel if your favorite team played an official game in your city?
- Do you think it is important for sports to be international? Why or why not?
