Chiefs won’t play international game this season. Here’s why they could in 2027
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- The Chiefs were not selected for the NFL’s 9-game international slate announced Wednesday.
- KC sought a Madrid game, but the Cincinnati Bengals will play the Atlanta Falcons instead.
- The Chiefs could play internationally in 2027 because AFC teams will have nine home games.
The NFL’s nine-game international schedule was revealed Wednesday. The Chiefs were not one of the teams selected to play overseas this fall.
Kansas City wanted to be. The best opportunity was a game in Madrid, Spain, against the Atlanta Falcons. But the Cincinnati Bengals will be the visiting team for that game.
The Chiefs usually have their hand raised for international opportunities, and 2027 will provide another chance. In the NFL’s 17-game schedule, AFC teams will have nine home games next season, giving the Chiefs an “extra” home contest.
That was the case in 2025, when they opened the season in Sao Paulo, Brazil, and in 2023, when they played in Frankfurt, Germany. The Chiefs have played four international games in their history, also appearing in London in 2015 and Mexico City in 2019.
The Chiefs know their opening-week matchup for the coming season. They’ll play host to the Denver Broncos on “Monday Night Football” at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium on Sept. 14.
The entire NFL schedule will be released on Thursday around 7 p.m. Central Time. Here are the international games:
Week 1, Sept. 10 in Melbourne, Australia: San Francisco 49ers vs. Los Angeles Rams
Week 3, Sept. 27 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil: Baltimore Ravens vs. Dallas Cowboys
Week 4, Oct. 4 in London, England: Indianapolis Colts vs. Washington Commanders
Week 5, Oct. 11 in London, England: Philadelphia Eagles vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
Week 6, Oct. 18 in London, England: Houston Texans vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
Week 7, Oct 25 in Paris, France: Pittsburgh Steelers vs. New Orleans Saints
Week 9, Nov. 8 in Madrid, Spain: Cincinnati Bengals vs. Atlanta Falcons
Week 10, Nov. 15 in Munich, Germany: New England Patriots vs. Detroit Lions
Week 11: Nov. 22 in Mexico City: Minnesota Vikings vs. San Francisco 49ers
This story was originally published May 13, 2026 at 10:49 AM with the headline "Chiefs won’t play international game this season. Here’s why they could in 2027."