Chicago Bears Avoid International Game in 2026 NFL Season

The Chicago Bears officially avoided an international trip during the 2026 NFL season.

According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the NFL finalized its international game lineup, and the Bears were not among the teams selected to play overseas. That means Ben Johnson’s team will remain stateside for the entire regular season despite speculation earlier this offseason that Chicago could land one of the league’s European showcase games.

For the Bears, that’s probably a good thing.

International games can create travel complications, disrupt weekly preparation routines, and lead to awkward scheduling stretches during the season. With expectations rising around quarterback Caleb Williams entering Year 3 and Johnson beginning his second year as head coach, avoiding an overseas trip removes one potential obstacle from Chicago’s 2026 campaign.

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There was some belief that the Bears could be a logical fit for the NFL’s Madrid game because Chicago holds international marketing rights in Spain through the league’s Global Markets Program. Instead, the NFL opted to leave the Bears off the international slate entirely.

That decision should be welcomed inside Halas Hall.

The Bears already face a challenging 2026 schedule, and staying in the United States for every game gives Johnson one less variable to manage during a pivotal season for the franchise. It may not generate headlines like an overseas matchup would, but from a football standpoint, this is likely the best-case scenario for Chicago.