LONDON — The Jacksonville Jaguars are trading the Florida humidity for British rain, and they are doing it twice. Facing significant construction constraints at home, the Jaguars will host consecutive games in London this October, becoming the first NFL franchise to surrender two domestic home games in a single season. The Washington Commanders will join the overseas invasion, securing a date at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Construction Zones and Frequent Flyers
Heavy machinery is officially dictating the NFL schedule. Massive stadium renovations in Jacksonville will slash EverBank Stadium’s capacity to exactly 42,507 seats this fall. Ownership looked at the math, looked at the missing ticket revenue, and booked a transatlantic flight. Fans felt a sudden jolt when the news broke Tuesday morning. Giving up one home game is routine. Giving up two feels like a permanent relocation test run.
The Jaguars know the drill. They boast a dead-even 7-7 record across a league-leading 14 games played in the United Kingdom. Last season, they split an international double-header against Chicago and New England. This time, the stakes feel heavier. Jacksonville will completely vacate their home stadium in 2027, temporarily setting up shop in Orlando. The 2026 London trip serves as the opening act for a franchise about to live out of a suitcase.
The NFL is rapidly turning the globe into its playground. The 2026 slate features an unprecedented nine international games spanning four continents. San Francisco and the Los Angeles Rams are packing up for Australia. Detroit heads to Germany. New Orleans takes France, and Dallas touches down in Brazil. A Spanish host city remains a mystery, keeping fans in suspense after Miami handed Washington an overtime loss in Madrid last year.
“My immediate takeaway was London is undoubtedly our home away from home. We have a passionate and knowledgeable fan base in London, built over time and still growing.”
— Liam Coen, Head Coach
Playoff Implications / What’s Next
Consecutive weeks across the Atlantic completely alter how a coaching staff prepares a roster. The physical toll of flying out, adjusting to the time zone, and absorbing the heavy, damp air of an English autumn changes recovery timelines. Teams usually take a bye week immediately following a London game. By stacking two in October, Jacksonville burns through a massive chunk of their travel fatigue at once, but they risk returning stateside sluggish just as division rivalries heat up.
Washington faces a different challenge. The Commanders only lose one true home game, but walking into Tottenham Hotspur Stadium—the NFL’s official British headquarters—presents a hostile environment entirely detached from the typical NFC East crowd noise. Fans wearing thirty-two different jerseys will pack the stands, screaming on every third down simply because they love the chaos of the sport. The league will drop specific dates and opponents in the coming weeks. Until then, equipment managers are already ordering extra passports.
