Free extension for sports fans
Advertisement
Advertisement

What NFL chiefs have changed for Sunday’s game in Spain after ‘learning’ from last year’s mistake

The NFL’s international series picks up again this weekend as the Atlanta Falcons host the Cincinnati Bengals over in Spain, Madrid. Playing on foreign soil…

Published: Friday, 6 November 2026 at 2:20 PM
What NFL chiefs have changed for Sunday’s game in Spain after ‘learning’ from last year’s mistake
Key Things to Know
  • The NFL expanded locker room sizes at the Santiago Bernabeu after learning from mistakes during last year's Madrid game.
  • The Atlanta Falcons host the Cincinnati Bengals in Madrid as part of the NFL's nine-game international series.
  • A 14-person NFL crew collaborated with Real Madrid ground staff to prepare the stadium's underground-stored turf system.
The Story in 60 Seconds

NFL officials have expanded the locker room sizes at the Santiago Bernabeu in Madrid ahead of Sunday's game between the Atlanta Falcons and Cincinnati Bengals. Following concerns from fans and lessons learned from the previous year's event, organizers altered the facilities to accommodate larger American football rosters in a stadium originally built for soccer.

In addition to the locker room modifications, the NFL sent a 14-person crew to collaborate with Real Madrid's groundskeepers. The teams are working together to prepare the playing surface using the stadium's underground hypogeum turf storage system.

Advertisement

Never Miss a Sports Update

Get the latest sports news and top stories from MySportsTab delivered straight to your inbox.

No spam. Just the latest sports news and updates.