From Wembley to Seattle, Six American Football Trips for 2026 and 2027

College and NFL fixtures in London and Dublin join stadium-led city breaks in Seattle, Denver and Los Angeles

American football trips in 2026 and 2027 range from landmark games in London and Dublin to NFL city breaks in Seattle, Denver and Los Angeles.

(NEWS) LONDON, England, United Kingdom, 2026-Aug-31 — /Travel PR News/ — American football fans in Britain can see two markedly different versions of the sport at Wembley this autumn: the ceremony and marching bands of a Big 12 college game in September, followed by an NFL divisional contest in October. For travellers prepared to go farther, Dublin is already preparing for a 2027 college fixture, while Seattle, Denver and Los Angeles offer stadium experiences around which a wider US city break can be built.

The result is a useful mix of short-haul event travel and longer sports holidays. Three of the six options bring American teams to this side of the Atlantic; the other three put supporters inside distinctive NFL home environments, with food, neighbourhoods and major attractions beyond the turnstiles.

1. See college football make Wembley history

Arizona State University and the University of Kansas will meet in the inaugural Union Jack Classic at Wembley Stadium on 19 September 2026. The Arizona State Sun Devils and Kansas Jayhawks are Big 12 opponents, and their London meeting will be the first Football Bowl Subdivision game played in the United Kingdom.

It will also be the first college football game at Wembley and only the second staged in London. The previous contest was played at Crystal Palace in 1988, when Richmond defeated Boston University. That long gap helps explain why the organisers are presenting the event as more than a standard fixture.

Tailgate activities, marching-band pep rallies and a halftime show are intended to reproduce elements of a US college Saturday for a British audience. Kick-off is scheduled for 5 p.m. local time, leaving visitors time to explore London before travelling to Wembley. Fans following the Sun Devils can also use Visit Arizona to turn interest in the team into a future trip to its home state.

2. Watch Houston and Jacksonville renew their London rivalry

Wembley switches from college pageantry to the professional game on 18 October, when the Houston Texans face the Jacksonville Jaguars in the 2026 NFL London Games. The NFL lists a 2.30 p.m. local kick-off for the AFC South match-up, which forms part of a nine-game international schedule across seven countries.

Houston’s last Wembley appearance also came against Jacksonville. The Texans won 26-3 in 2019 and return seven years later to a stadium that has hosted regular-season NFL games since 2007. Between-play entertainment and the mixture of team jerseys in the stands give London games a different character from a conventional home fixture, while supporters travelling from outside the capital can build a weekend around the event rather than fly to the United States.

NFL London information confirms that tickets for the Wembley game are on sale, with the Jaguars managing sales through their ticketing site. Travellers interested in experiencing the Texans on home ground can find wider destination information through Visit Houston.

3. Plan ahead for Pitt’s return to Dublin

The transatlantic college calendar extends into 2027. The University of Pittsburgh Panthers will open their season against the Wisconsin Badgers at Dublin’s Aviva Stadium on 28 August 2027 as part of the Aer Lingus College Football Classic.

For Pitt, the game marks a return to Ireland 38 years after the Panthers defeated Rutgers in the 1989 Emerald Isle Classic at Lansdowne Road. It will be the programme’s first game outside the United States since then. Wisconsin has played abroad only once before, beating Michigan State in Tokyo in 1993, and Pitt will be the designated home team in Dublin.

The long lead time makes this the option best suited to a planned Ireland holiday rather than a last-minute match trip. Official travel and hospitality packages are already being offered, while the campaign information supplied for this story says general tickets are expected to go on sale in March 2027. The Pitt Panthers and VisitPITTSBURGH provide further team and destination information.

4. Hear Seattle’s champions at Lumen Field

For a stateside trip, Seattle combines a high-profile team with one of the NFL’s most accessible urban stadiums. The Seattle Seahawks enter the 2026 season as Super Bowl LX champions after beating the New England Patriots 29-13 in February. Their home, Lumen Field, stands immediately south of downtown, close enough for visitors to combine a game with Pike Place Market, the waterfront and the bars and restaurants of Pioneer Square.

The stadium’s steep seating bowl is designed to keep spectators close to the field, and its crowd has a documented reputation for volume. Guinness World Records says Seahawks supporters broke the record for the loudest crowd roar at a sports stadium twice during a 2013 game. Lumen Field has also just completed a different kind of global assignment, hosting six matches during the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The ability to stay centrally and use public transport makes Seattle a comparatively straightforward NFL destination for overseas visitors. Current schedules and neighbourhood ideas are available from Visit Seattle.

5. Pair Denver tailgating with the Rocky Mountains

Denver offers a contrasting game-day ritual. The three-time Super Bowl champion Denver Broncos play at Empower Field at Mile High, where pre-game tailgating is central to the experience and the Rocky Mountains form part of the wider city backdrop.

The stadium sits just over two miles from downtown and can be reached by light rail, allowing international visitors to attend without building an itinerary around a hire car. The “Mile High” name is literal: Denver’s elevation is approximately one mile above sea level.

A football weekend can also include the River North Art District, better known as RiNo, where converted industrial buildings house street art, breweries, restaurants and music venues. Visit Denver’s stadium guide covers transport, tailgating and entry information, all of which should be checked again close to game day.

6. See both Los Angeles teams under one roof

SoFi Stadium in Inglewood is the only venue on this list shared by two NFL clubs. The Los Angeles Rams and Los Angeles Chargers usually alternate as the home team, but they meet each other at SoFi on 1 November 2026, with the Rams designated as hosts. That creates a rare opportunity to see both local fan bases at their shared ground in a single game.

The official Rams schedule lists a 1.05 p.m. Pacific Time kick-off. The campaign supplied for this story advertised tickets from £65 per person, although live prices and availability can change and should be confirmed before making non-refundable travel arrangements. Visitors planning a longer stay can also look for separate Rams and Chargers home dates rather than relying on the head-to-head fixture.

SoFi’s event calendar extends well beyond the regular season. The stadium will host Super Bowl LXI on 14 February 2027 and, together with the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, will take part in the opening ceremonies for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Visit California’s SoFi Stadium guide offers practical destination context, while the Rams’ official schedule carries current fixture and ticket links.

Match tickets should come before flights

Sports trips carry an extra planning risk because fixture details, ticket inventories and resale rules can change. Travellers should buy through an official team, league, stadium or authorised package provider, confirm the final date and kick-off time, and understand refund conditions before booking flights and accommodation.

For the two Wembley games, the main appeal is access to an American game-day experience without a transatlantic flight. Dublin adds a longer planning horizon and a natural city-break setting. Seattle, Denver and Los Angeles require more time and expense, but they place the match inside the culture of a home NFL market. Together, the six options show how American football is increasingly functioning as a travel event on both sides of the Atlantic.