The 2026 NFL schedule hasn’t been fully released yet, but a lot of information has been revealed. One of the biggest tidbits that has been reported is all the international games being played this season.
Notably, the Las Vegas Raiders weren’t among the teams playing a game internationally. Now, many teams aren’t playing an international game this season, but what makes the Raiders’ situation notable is that they haven’t played outside of the United States since 2019.
That’s the longest stretch for any team in the NFL, and the Raiders are the only team not to play an international game in the 2020s. The team hasn’t been very good in the 2020s, so that likely plays a factor in why the NFL doesn’t want to showcase them. That said, many bad teams still get international games. The Washington Commanders won five games last season and are set to play in London, England.
While the Raiders likely aren’t too sad about not having to board a long flight to play football, some fans can’t understand why the NFL isn’t giving them a chance to play in front of a new audience.
“Doesn’t make much sense either. One of the bigger global brands in the sport,” one user on X wrote in response.
“For a few years, it seemed like we always had a home game overseas,” another user wrote. “Now they won’t put the Raiders in an international game, even though we have one of the biggest global brands!”
Raiders Have Sizable International Fan Base
The Raiders not having an international game since 2019 is certainly a curious choice. Their brand is one of the most recognizable in the world.
Even with the team not being very good for a long time, everybody knows the Raiders’ logo. In fact, last year, ESPN did a study that found that the Raiders were the seventh-most searched team around the world outside of the United States.
It makes it easier on the actual team that they won’t have to travel so much, but with the NFL trying to get more popular globally, the Raiders are getting left in the dust for now.
Raiders Could Become Popular Again
The Raiders are a massive brand when they’re doing well. They were arguably the most popular team in the NFL in the 70s and 80s.
Not winning a playoff game in over two decades will certainly do a lot to tarnish a brand. Luckily, things are headed in the right direction. The Raiders drafted Fernando Mendoza with the No. 1 pick, and he has big-time international appeal.
The fact that he also speaks Spanish could make the Raiders a popular choice to play in Madrid or Mexico City next season. However, the league doesn’t even know if he’s going to play, so it’s easy to understand why they didn’t have the Raiders play an internatnional came.
That’s almost certainly going to change. The Raiders are in a better spot, and the fact that Tom Brady is a minority owner should also help. The team is still likely a year away from being good, so it makes more sense to showcase them more in 2027.
NFL Facing Backlash Over Raiders Scheduling Decision