JJ Watt Compares NFL's International Schedule to 'Traveling Circus' After 2026 Matchups Released

NFL legend JJ Watt has some thoughts about the NFL's international schedule after the league announced the nine matchups that will be played outside of the United States during the 2026 season.

In a post on X, Watt compared the international schedule to a "traveling circus" rather than an "occasional showcase" event.

The NFL's international slate this year includes games in Australia, Germany, France, Brazil, Spain and Mexico. There are also games in London over three consecutive weeks from Oct. 4-18.

Nine games outside of the U.S. marks a new single-season record for the NFL. The previous record was set last season, with seven games played in five different countries.

Playing international games and expanding the league's fanbase has been a high priority in the NFL for years. With the exception of the 2020 season when travel was limited due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the league has played at least one international game every year since 2007.

The 2026 campaign will mark the fifth consecutive season that regular-season games have been played in at least two different countries.

London has hosted a majority of the NFL's international games. France and Australia will host their first regular-season games in 2026.