Michigan Football may be heading overseas in 2026, as it is in talks to open next season against Western Michigan in Frankfurt, Germany:
The Michigan Wolverines football program is potentially gearing up for something it has never done before — playing a game outside of North America.
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We are engaged in ongoing discussions to kick off the 2026 season on foreign soil, playing host to Western Michigan at Deutsche Bank Park in Frankfurt, Hesse, Germany, on Saturday, Aug. 29. This non-conference matchup would become the first game played by the Wolverines… pic.twitter.com/V4j6TZAYHc
— Michigan Football (@UMichFootball) July 25, 2025
Per a statement released by the program, the Wolverines are in advanced talks to open the 2026 season against Western Michigan in Frankfurt, Germany on Aug. 29. If everything comes together, it’ll mark the first time Michigan has played a football game on foreign soil, and the first college football game ever played in Germany.
The matchup, originally scheduled to be played at the Big House on Sept. 5, would be moved up a week to what’s known as “Week 0.”
The game would be played at Deutsche Bank Park, also known as Waldstadion, a 55,000-seat stadium that normally hosts Eintracht Frankfurt of the Bundesliga. It’s already proven it can handle American football, as the stadium hosted two NFL games in 2023, and fans in Germany have shown a growing interest in the sport.
Athletic Director Warde Manuel sees the game as a chance to do something truly special for both the program and its fanbase.
“We are in advanced discussions to create this first-of-its-kind opportunity for our student-athletes and fans,” Manuel said in the press release. “The University of Michigan is one of the few worldwide brands in college athletics and the interest in playing an international game would be unique. This would be a great opportunity to teach ‘Go Blue’ to a new group of fans in Germany.”
Head coach Sherrone Moore echoed Manuel’s excitement and also acknowledged the broader value of the experience.
“I am excited about the football and educational experience this game could provide for our players,” Moore said. “We are always looking for unique opportunities to expose our student-athletes to other cultures. In the last 10 years, our program has been to Italy, France and South Africa, and this game would provide another chance to grow our international fanbase.”
If finalized, the game would mark the first time Michigan has faced a Mid-American Conference opponent anywhere other than Michigan Stadium. It would also build in a two-week buffer before the team’s massive home-opener against Oklahoma, part of a home-and-home series that begins in Norman this upcoming season.