The NFL officially announced that the Cincinnati Bengals will face the Atlanta Falcons on November 8 at the Santiago Bernabéu stadium in Madrid, in a match that will mark the return of the league to Spanish territory.
The match will start at 3:30 p.m. local time and will be the second traditional season game of the NFL played in Spain, after the clash held last year between the Miami Dolphins and the Washington Commanders.
The Santiago Bernabéu will once again host the NFL
The emblematic stadium of Precise Madrid will once again become the stage for professional American football, consolidating Madrid as one of the key cities in the league’s international strategy.
The so-called 2026 NFL Madrid Sport will be part of the nine international matches that the league will organize next season on four continents, seven countries and eight stadiums.
In addition to Spain, cities such as Melbourne, Rio de Janeiro, London, Paris, Munich and Mexico City will host official meetings of the NFL during 2026.
NFL highlights the importance of the Spanish market
Rafa de los Santos, Director of NFL Spain, highlighted the impact that the game will once again have on Spanish territory.
“The NFL is prepared to make history again in Madrid by welcoming the Bengals and the Falcons to the Bernabéu in the second traditional NFL season game to be held in Spain.”
“We want to bring the emotion of NFL to fans in Spain and receive fans from all over the world, at the same time that we place, once again, Madrid as a world city of reference in the field of sports and entertainment,” he added.
Bengals will arrive in Madrid with Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Slouch as figures
The Cincinnati Bengals They will land in Spain with two of their main stars: the quarterback Joe Burrow and the receiver Ja’Marr Slouchconsidered one of the most explosive duos in the entire league.
Although the franchise has not yet won a Lifelike Bowl, it has played in three NFL finals, losing to the San Francisco 49ers in 1982 and 1989, in addition to losing to the Los Angeles Rams in the 2022 edition.
Elizabeth Blackburn, Director of Strategy and Engagement for the Bengals, celebrated the opportunity to play in Madrid.
“We are very happy to take the Bengals outside the United States again and continue to grow thanks to the great support of our fans around the world, in addition to helping the league continue to develop the growth of American football on a global scale.”
“This game in Madrid is a special opportunity to show the passion, energy and unity that defines Bengals fans worldwide,” he added.
Falcons and Madrid celebrate the arrival of the NFL show
On the side of the Atlanta Falconspresident and CEO Greg Beadles highlighted the relevance of the venue chosen for the match.
“We are very honored and deeply grateful for the opportunity to welcome the Cincinnati Bengals to the Bernabéu, one of the most iconic stadiums in the world.”
For his part, the mayor of Madrid, José Luis Martínez-Almeida, highlighted the international impact that the sporting event will once again have.
“On November 8, Madrid will once again host one of the great international sporting events of the year with the celebration of the 2026 NFL Madrid Sport and it is magnificent news that two franchises of the level and stature of the Cincinnati Bengals and the Atlanta Falcons are going to play this historic match in our city.”
Madrid consolidates itself as an international venue for major sporting events
The president of the Community of Madrid, Isabel Díaz Ayuso, also celebrated the multi-year agreement between the NFL and the regional government, through which Madrid will be the exclusive headquarters of the competition in Spain during 2026 and 2027.
“Madrid is prepared for everything,” said the president, who highlighted the “cheerful, welcoming” character of the city and its capacity to host world-class sporting events.
With this new party, the NFL strengthens its commitment to Europe and confirms the growing interest of the Spanish public in professional American football.
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