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It’s no secret that one of the NFL’s top brands continues to build its brand around the world.
But with the addition of more international games in different countries, including the NFL season reportedly starting on Wednesday with a game in Melbourne, Australia in 2026 (technically Thursday for Australians), the question has to be asked: Will the Super Bowl end up overseas?
Celebrity sports agent Leigh Steinberg doesn’t see it happening despite all the international pressure.
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A wide view of the first half during the NFL International Series game at Wembley Stadium. (Photos by Peter van den Berg-Imagn)
“The Super Bowl has become a rallying point for Americana,” Steinberg told Fox News Digital during a recent phone call. “So, it’s not just an entertainment event – it’s a cultural event. Big business, big politics, big entertainment and big sports, and fans, all come together in the city. To take that overseas, I think it would be difficult.”
The NFL’s first regular season game in its history was in 2005, when the Arizona Cardinals and the San Francisco 49ers traveled to Mexico City to play. But two years later, the league launched the “International Series,” a game between the New York Giants and the Miami Dolphins at Wembley Stadium in London, England that began the campaign to continue bringing NFL games to overseas fans.
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Of course, every league wants to expand its reach, and the NFL has done a great job of scheduling more games a year, while also connecting in different ways with those fans, whether it’s through the NFL Draft or other initiatives.
In 2026, there will be a record nine international regular season games played, covering four different continents and seven different locations.
Leigh Steinberg attends the 39th Annual Leigh Steinberg Super Bowl Party at Storek on Feb. 7, 2026 in San Francisco, California. (Jesse Grant/Getty Images)
In addition to Melbourne and London, where there will be three games, Paris, Rio de Janeiro, Munich, Madrid and Mexico City will host the NFL in 2026.
But even though fans continue to eat these games, some write them on the calendar to go and watch their favorite teams, do the teams themselves love them?
“They have mixed feelings,” Steinberg said. “They actually like the traveling aspect of it, seeing different cultures and stuff. But it takes a physical toll. I mean, flying away. [the West Coast] to London 12 hours. Then, to fly back, 14 hours. The further east you go in Europe, the longer it gets. Therefore, it takes a physical toll.
“I think if you ask the coaches, they don’t like international games, because it takes them out of the way and schedule.”
Steinberg believes that more research needs to be done on the effects jetlag and travel have on the human body, and whether it affects the quality of play.
There’s nothing stopping the league from pushing it around the world, but will it get to the point where it’s too much, especially for the players and coaches to manage during a difficult season?
THE RETURN OF STEINBERG
While talking about all things football, Steinberg also discussed life and how his struggles with adversity led him to write “The Comeback: A Playbook for Turning Life’s Setbackies into Victories.”
Leigh Steinberg speaks on stage during the annual Leigh Steinberg Super Bowl Party at Storek on Feb. 7, 2026 in San Francisco, California. (Jesse Grant/Getty Images)
Steinberg built an empire by representing the best athletes in the world, but he also suffered from alcoholism and financial struggles, which eventually brought him down. But she rebuilt herself through those difficult times, and with this book, she hopes to help others do the same.
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And sharing the stories of athletes who faced similar difficulties, Steinberg believes that all students should leave with this lesson they received.
“Introspection,” he said. “A realistic understanding of your values and priorities, whether it’s short-term economic gain, long-term economic security, spiritual values, family. It’s having clarity within yourself about what really makes a fulfilling life. Then, you come up with a strategy to get back to that.”
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