The wait is almost over.
On 9 September 2026, the new NFL season arrives on ESPN Africa, giving fans across the continent a front-row seat to one of the world’s biggest sporting leagues.
And this season, there will be plenty to watch.
ESPN Africa will broadcast four live NFL games every week throughout the regular season, bringing touchdowns, fierce rivalries and defining moments directly to audiences across Africa.
With 32 teams chasing the same ultimate prize, every game becomes part of a much bigger story: the road to the playoffs and, eventually, Super Bowl LXI.
The road to Super Bowl LXI begins
The new NFL campaign will see all 32 teams return to action.
Each team will play 17 regular-season games over 18 weeks as they fight for a place in the postseason.
Then comes the ultimate goal: competing for the Vince Lombardi Trophy.
Standing in the way of the challengers are the reigning Super Bowl champions, the Seattle Seahawks.
They enter the new campaign with a target on their backs. The rest of the league will be looking to knock them from the top and claim American football’s biggest prize.
That sets the stage for another season filled with high-stakes moments.
From established superstars and historic franchises to emerging talent and some of sport’s fiercest rivalries, the NFL promises months of action as the playoff race begins to take shape.
Four live games. Every week.
For African NFL fans, the season will offer plenty of opportunities to stay close to the action.
ESPN Africa will deliver four live games every week during the regular season.
The games will air across Africa on ESPN and ESPN2, with broadcasts available through:
- ESPN — Azam 120, DStv 218, StarTimes 248, Wananchi / Zuku TV 712 and ZAP 31
- ESPN2 — Azam 121, DStv 219, StarTimes 249, Wananchi / Zuku TV 713 and ZAP 32
In South Africa, fans can also watch ESPN and ESPN2 on the linear channels on Disney+.
And if you miss the live action, there is still another chance to catch up.
Repeat broadcasts will feature during regular programming hours, giving fans more opportunities to tune in.
More than a game
The NFL season is about more than individual matchups.
It is a long road where every team is chasing a place in the playoffs, while every performance can shape the race ahead.
For fans, that means watching established stars, discovering emerging talent and following rivalries that can define a season.
It also means watching the reigning champions defend their crown.
The Seattle Seahawks now have the challenge of protecting their position at the top, while 31 other teams begin the campaign with the same ambition: reach the biggest stage.
The season ends where the dream begins
After the regular-season battles and the push for the postseason, the journey will culminate in Super Bowl LXI.
Two NFL conference champions will meet for one of the biggest annual sporting events in the world.
For African audiences, ESPN Africa will bring that journey closer, week after week, from the opening games through the defining moments of the season.
The countdown is on.
The NFL is back. The road to Super Bowl LXI starts on 9 September.
How to follow ESPN Africa
Fans can follow @ESPNAfrica on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for updates about ESPN and its programming.
For more information, fans can also visit ESPN.
