Favorites are 39-23-1 ATS in NFL international games all-time, but the last 15 tell a closer story. See the 2026 schedule, kickoff times and a five-point checklist.
NFL international games change your bet in three small ways: odd kickoff times, a “home” team that is not really at home, and a history that has leaned toward favorites and unders. Favorites are 39-23-1 against the spread (ATS) in these games all-time, per Covers. But in the 15 games Covers lists from 2022 to 2025, our count has them at just 8-7 ATS. Here is what that means for the 2026 slate, and what to check before you bet.
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Key Takeaways
- The 2026 NFL schedule has a record nine international games in seven countries. Three are in London on three straight Sundays.
- All-time, favorites are 47-16 straight up and 39-23-1 ATS in international games, and the Over is 29-34, per Covers.
- Our count of the last 15 games (2022-2025) is much closer: favorites 10-5 straight up, 8-7 ATS, and the Under 9-6.
- Most remaining games kick off at 9:30 a.m. ET. None of the remaining games has a West Coast team playing that early slot.
- Jacksonville plays in London on back-to-back Sundays (Oct. 11 and Oct. 18). Check team news on how they travel before you bet either game.
How Many NFL Games Are Played Overseas in 2026?
Nine. That is the most the league has ever scheduled, across seven countries, per DAZN. Three have already been played. Six are left, starting with the Eagles and Jaguars in London on Oct. 11.
| Week | Date | Matchup | City | Kickoff (ET / PT) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Played | 49ers 27, Rams 7 | Melbourne | Played |
| 3 | Played (Sept. 27) | Ravens 34, Cowboys 31 | Rio de Janeiro | Played |
| 4 | Played (Oct. 4) | Colts 30, Commanders 13 | London | Played |
| 5 | Oct. 11 | Eagles vs. Jaguars | London | 9:30 a.m. / 6:30 a.m. |
| 6 | Oct. 18 | Texans vs. Jaguars | London | 9:30 a.m. / 6:30 a.m. |
| 7 | Oct. 25 | Steelers vs. Saints | Paris | 9:30 a.m. / 6:30 a.m. |
| 9 | Nov. 8 | Bengals vs. Falcons | Madrid | 9:30 a.m. / 6:30 a.m. |
| 10 | Nov. 15 | Patriots vs. Lions | Munich | 9:30 a.m. / 6:30 a.m. |
| 11 | Nov. 22 | Vikings vs. 49ers | Mexico City | 8:20 p.m. / 5:20 p.m. |
Source: DAZN, published October 7, 2026, and Covers, updated July 28, 2026. Results from DAZN.
The Rio game is a good reminder of how tight these can get. Baltimore beat Dallas 34-31 on a 56-yard field goal as time expired, per DAZN. If you want to know why a half point matters in a game like that, read our guide to NFL key numbers.
Do Favorites Really Win More in International Games?
Historically, yes. But the edge looks smaller lately. Covers tracks 63 international games, and favorites have been strong in them.
| Market (favorites) | All-time (63 games) | Last 15 (2022-2025) | 2025 only (7 games) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Straight up | 47-16 (74.6%) | 10-5 (66.7%) | 5-2 |
| Against the spread | 39-23-1 (62.7%) | 8-7 (53.3%) | 3-4 |
| Over / Under | Over 29-34 (46.0%) | Over 6-9 | Over 4-3 |
All-time column: Covers. “Last 15” and “2025 only” columns: DWZ count from the results table on the same Covers page, using the spreads and totals it lists. Straight up means just winning the game. ATS means beating the point spread.
Here is our take. The all-time numbers are real, but they include many older games. In the 15 most recent ones, favorites covered only 8 times. Last year it was 3 of 7. An 8-7 record is basically a coin flip, so we would not pay extra for a favorite just because the game is overseas.
Fair warning: this is a small sample. Fifteen games cannot prove a trend either way. We are using it as a reason to be careful with the old “always back the favorite abroad” idea, not as a system. The Covers page also says this beats a “roughly two-thirds” cover rate for favorites in regular games. We could not verify that figure, so we left it out.
Do International NFL Games Go Under the Total?
Slightly more often than not. The Under is 34-29 all-time, which is 54%, per Covers. Our count of the last 15 has it at 9-6. But last year went 4-3 to the Over, so this is a lean, not a rule.
Why might totals run low? We have not seen data that proves a cause, so treat any reason as a guess. What we can say is that six of the seven games in 2025 were decided by six points or fewer, per Covers, and two went to overtime. Close games and extra periods affect totals and spreads in different ways. See our guide to NFL overtime rules and betting for how a tie at the end of regulation changes your ticket.
Who Is the “Home” Team in an International Game?
Nobody, really. The league picks one team to be the designated home team, but both teams travel. Your sportsbook still lists one side as home and one as away. That matters for how a spread or a parlay leg is labeled, so double-check which team you are betting.
It also means the usual home-field bump does not apply the same way. We covered how that edge works in how home-field advantage works in NFL betting. In London, the Jaguars are the one team that has treated the city like a second home for years, per Covers, which is why the 2026 slate has them playing there twice.
What Should You Check Before Betting an International NFL Game?
We use a five-point checklist. It is our own framework, not a proven system. It just keeps you from skipping the details that are different overseas.
- Kickoff time. Five of the six remaining games start at 9:30 a.m. ET. That is a 6:30 a.m. start on the West Coast. We checked: no West Coast team plays in those five games. The one West Coast team left, the 49ers, plays a normal evening kickoff in Mexico City on Nov. 22 (5:20 p.m. PT). So the “early body clock” angle is weaker than it sounds.
- Travel load. The Jaguars play Philadelphia on Oct. 11 and Houston on Oct. 18, both in London. Team travel plans are not public in our sources, so check beat reports before betting either game.
- Field and venue. The NFL Players Association released a statement after the Brazil game about field conditions, per Front Office Sports. Venue surface, roof and weather (see our NFL weather betting guide) can change a total more than a flight can.
- Game script and key numbers. Close games are common here. Check whether your number sits on a 3 or a 6 before you take the spread.
- The price. Lines on 9:30 a.m. games can move quickly, since they are the first games of the day. Compare numbers at BetOnline and MyBookie before you bet, and read how reverse line movement can signal sharp money.
What Should Bettors Watch for the Rest of the International Slate?
Three things stand out to us as the slate moves from London to Paris, Madrid, Munich and Mexico City. Please read these as things to watch, not picks.
- Week 5 and 6 in London. Jacksonville plays twice. Compare the Jaguars’ number in the second game with the first before you decide how much travel is priced in.
- The Munich and Madrid games. Both kick off at 9:30 a.m. ET, and none of the four teams involved is from the West Coast. Check Wednesday and Thursday injury reports, which our injury report guide explains.
- Mexico City in Week 11. It is a prime-time-style evening kickoff, so it behaves more like a normal Sunday night. See our prime-time betting guide.
Editor’s Note: Fifteen games is a small sample, and Covers’ all-time record includes games from many different eras. We are treating the favorite and Under trends as context, not as a betting system. We will revisit these numbers after the Paris, Madrid and Munich games.
So Is Betting NFL International Games Any Different?
A little. The rules, the sportsbooks and the math are the same. What changes is the context: the kickoff time, the travel, the field and a favorite edge that has cooled off lately. Use the checklist, shop the number, and do not assume the favorite always wins just because the game is overseas.
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References
- Covers. “NFL International Games Betting History.” James Bisson. Updated July 28, 2026. Checked October 8, 2026.
- DAZN. “2026 NFL international games: Highlights, previews, and how to watch on DAZN.” Published October 7, 2026.
- Front Office Sports. Mark Maske. “NFL, NFLPA Yet to Seriously Discuss Going Beyond 10 International Games.” October 2, 2026.
