On Wednesday, all 32 NFL teams will unveil their 2025 schedules, providing details such as order, timing, and locations. Although the Cincinnati Bengals’ opponents have been known for some time, it has been confirmed that they will not participate in any of the seven international games this season, keeping them entirely within U.S. borders.
This information was revealed by NFL Network, which announced the six international games planned, excluding one game to take place in Brazil in Week 1, hosted by the Los Angeles Chargers—an opponent not on Cincinnati’s 2025 schedule.
Interestingly, the Bengals’ scheduled opponents include three teams designated as home teams for international games: the Pittsburgh Steelers, Cleveland Browns, and Miami Dolphins. The Steelers and Browns will face the Minnesota Vikings in Dublin and London, respectively, while the Dolphins will take on the Washington Commanders in Madrid.
As the Bengals have not played in an international game since 2019, they will have one of the longest durations without international play leading into the 2026 season. Only four other teams—Dallas, Detroit, Houston, and Las Vegas—share this distinction, having also remained stateside since the 2022 season.
This situation provides a unique perspective on the Bengals’ scheduling strategy, as they focus on building their team at home while other franchises explore international markets. There is potential for excitement and opportunity as they can concentrate on enhancing their local fan engagement and performance in their own environment.