9 Surprising Stats Regarding International NFL Games You May Not Know

The National Football League is the most prestigious American football competition, and it has significantly expanded its international presence in the last couple of years. 2026 is no exception, with 9 regular-season games spread across 7 countries and 4 continents.

We at Nostrabet.com are fully aware that the big reason for these types of games is to popularize American football outside of the USA. With that said, playing thousands of miles away from home presents some interesting challenges for NFL Teams. Many fans are not aware of them and want to learn more about some of the more interesting stats, so let’s dive in and see everything.

1. Nine International NFL Games in 2026 – a New Record

People who have not followed the NFL should know that the first international regular-season game took place in 2005. This was when Arizona’s Cardinals defeated the San Francisco 49ers in Mexico City, and it was the beginning of a new chapter for the league.

​By 2007, NFL teams regularly went to London as the NY Giants defeated the Miami Dolphins at Wembley. After that, international games became a crucial part of the NFL calendar. In fact, we have seen a total of 62 regular-season games played outside the USA by the end of 2025.

​The 2026 season is the most interesting yet because it features 9 international games. They were held/will be held in a total of seven countries on four different continents. Some of the places include Rio, Paris, and Melbourne.

​With that said, the nine international fixtures represent only 3.3% of the NFL’s 272 regular-season games in 2026. This remains a small proportion, but no one can deny that the impact is huge. Seven of these nine matches have already taken place as of November 9, 2026.

2. International NFL Games Averaged Around 46 Points in 2026

Some NFL fans believe that international clashes don’t allow teams to showcase their offensive potential. With that said, the first six overseas games of the 2026 season have resulted in a total of 320 points so far. The game between Baltimore and Dallas in Rio and the match between Houston and Jacksonville in London have produced 65 points each, the highest so far. These clashes prove that international games can indeed deliver high-scoring entertainment.

​Historically, some overseas NFL games did not produce as many points as domestic ones. For example, Indianapolis defeated New England in Frankfurt in 2023, 10-6. In 2008, however, the New Orleans Saints defeated the San Diego Chargers 37-32 at Wembley. The contract shows that international matches can be very exciting, but it really depends on the situation.

3. Four out of the 7 International NFL Matches so Far Were Decided by One Score

The NFL is popular for many different things, one of which is the close contests. This is especially true for the international games, and we can clearly see that in 2026. Four of the first six games finished with a winning margin of 8 points or less, meaning that 57.1% of them were decided by a single possession.

A deeper dive into all of the six matches so far shows an average winning margin of around 9.7 points. San Francisco recorded the largest winning margin so far when it defeated the Los Angeles Rams in Melbourne with 27-7. Indianapolis also secured a comfortable 35-18 victory over Washington at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

4. The NFL’s Australian Debut Produced a Major Betting Upset

2026 was an interesting year because we saw the first NFL regular-season game in Australia. The match took place on September 11, and San Francisco defeated the Los Angeles Rams 27-7 in Melbourne. What’s interesting about that particular match is that the winning team was actually the underdog.

Instead of securing a narrow win as the favorites, LA suffered a comprehensive 20-point defeat. Some NFL fans believe the result was mainly due to the challenges of traveling across the Pacific.

Some reports stated that the two NFL teams used very different strategies to prepare for the match. It seems San Francisco arrived in Australia earlier than the Rams, which gave them more time to adjust to everything.

Sports bettors interested in NFL betting need to consider travel fatigue when wagering on international games. It is just one of the many important factors bettors must consider before wagering. Bettors also have to take into account each team’s preparation, injuries, and recent performance.

5. Two Games in London Ended with Last-Second Winning Field Goals

Out of all of the NFL international matches we’ve seen so far, those in London produced the most interesting results. Two consecutive games were actually decided by successful field goals on the final play.

​On October 11, we saw Jacksonville defeat Philadelphia 19-17. The Eagles had the lead, and there were only 8 seconds remaining, but a strong kickoff return gave the Jaguars one final opportunity, and they seized it.

The same happened in the clash between the Houston Texans and the Jacksonville Jaguars, with the score 34-31. Ka’imi Fairbairn secured the victory after a 49-yard field goal on the final play. This game took place just seven days later at Wembley.​ Needless to say, NFL bettors need to focus on far more than just the final score. Games like that show why American football is one of the most unpredictable sports around.

6. Some International Stadiums Have Produced Remarkable Long-Range Field Goals

Due to the impressive performance by some NFL kickers, people are wondering whether the unfamiliar overseas stadiums affect field-goal accuracy. There have been a couple of matches where the kickers definitely impressed everyone, such as Houston vs. Jacksonville. Cam Little converted a 60-yard field goal to level the score in the 4th quarter, and the player had another successful 57-yard kick against Philadelphia the week before.

To be fair, the “kicking” conditions can be influenced by a variety of factors. This includes things like weather, playing surfaces, and even stadium design. Outside of that, fans have to consider the game’s importance, each player’s technique, and the distance. All of those factors are crucial in determining whether an attempt succeeds.

7. Jacksonville has played 16 Regular-Season Games in London

London has become one of the most popular hubs for NFL games outside the USA. Many NFL franchises visit it regularly, but the Jacksonville Jaguars are on another level. They first played here in 2013 and have since become the league’s most frequent London visitor.

​Until now, the squad has played 16 regular-season games, recording 8 victories and 8 defeats. An interesting fact is that the Jaguars played consecutive games in the city for the third time in 2026.

​Having more than one match when traveling internationally usually allows teams to perform better. They have more time to adapt to the time zone difference, weather conditions, and even the stadiums. Sadly for Jacksonville, the team’s results in 2026 have not been the best, so it failed to defeat Houston at Wembley this time around.

8. International NFL Games Have Attracted Over 100,000 Spectators in the Past

As mentioned, one of the main goals of overseas NFL matches is to popularize the league, since it’s much more popular in the USA than anywhere else. Although not every game draws tons of fans, some will go down in history.

​In fact, the first-ever regular-season game outside of the USA attracted over 103,457 spectators. This was the match when Arizona faced San Francisco in Mexico City in 2005. Dallas actually surpassed that record in 2009, when it gathered 105K spectators in the match against the NY Giants.​

More than two decades after the match in Mexico City, the inaugural regular-season game in Australia broke the six-figure audience number. Based on the stats, a total of 100,021 spectators attended the San Francisco-Los Angeles matchup in Melbourne. The NFL’s own stats show that this game had the 7th-largest attendance of any regular-season game in league history. It’s also the second-largest crowd for an international regular-season fixture.

What do People do While Watching the NFL Games?

You’d think that every NFL fan follows the games closely and keeps track of everything, right? Well, it seems like this is not the case, especially in the USA.

The stats show that around 33% of those who watch the games on TV play mobile/video games, whereas 31% read news and articles unrelated to the NFL. 22% of people text, use social media, and stream TV shows, movies, or videos.

​Interestingly, 26% of those watching the NFL via a stream focus on online shopping or browsing products. The same percentage texts or uses social media, and 19% check in on live stats/fantasy football or sports betting.

9. The NFL’s First Australian Game Gathered 21.7M Viewers Worldwide

Outside of the thousands of people attending the games, the NFL’s international expansion also affects viewers worldwide. According to the league’s official stats, the match between San Francisco and Los Angeles had a global audience of 21.7M viewers. Netflix’s broadcast in the USA alone averaged close to 18.5M viewers.

This huge popularity means the NFL can reach many new fans. The fact that International fixtures are held in a different time zone is actually a plus, as many sports fans can’t follow the league when games are in the USA.

What Can We Expect from the Remaining International Games in 2026?

Following Cincinnati’s impressive 34-17 victory over Atlanta in Madrid on November 8, the NFL’s international schedule is slowly coming to an end. There are two more games left: New England Patriots vs. Detroit Lions in Munich (Nov. 15) and Minnesota vs. San Francisco in Mexico City (Nov. 22).

The league has already recorded impressive attendance and broadcasting figures, and we expect to see the same in the last two games. All of these numbers show that the international NFL games have become a crucial part of the league. Some of the results so far also show that bettors need to be very careful, as travel, time zone differences, and overall adaptation can make a difference.