NFL London 2026: How to Watch Colts vs. Commanders and Why It Opens the Series
The Indianapolis Colts and Washington Commanders open the NFL's 2026 London schedule at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. This guide covers the kickoff time, the broadcast options in the U.S. and the UK, and why this matchup carries more weight than a typical early-season game.
A Kickoff Built for Two Time Zones
The game is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. ET, which lands at 2:30 p.m. local time in London. That makes it a late-morning fixture for American viewers and an afternoon game for fans in the UK and Ireland. Sky Sports starts its live coverage at 2 p.m. local time, half an hour before kickoff.
Where to Watch
In the U.S., NFL Network carries the game, and fans can also stream it through the league's streaming hub. In the UK and Ireland, the broadcast is on Sky Sports NFL and Sky Sports+. NFL Game Pass via DAZN also offers a live stream, but it requires a subscription. ESPN confirmed the U.S. viewing details, while Racing Post set out the UK options and the 2:30 p.m. BST start.
The First of Three London Games
The NFL has made London a regular part of its international calendar, and this game is the first of three in England during the 2026 season. After the Colts and Commanders meet at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, the Philadelphia Eagles face the Jacksonville Jaguars at the same venue. The Houston Texans then play the Jaguars at Wembley Stadium. Washington is the listed home team for the opener, a reminder of how the league moves a regular-season home date across the Atlantic.
Two Teams Finding Some Momentum
The trip to London comes after both clubs recorded their first wins of the season in Week 3. Indianapolis edged the Houston Texans, while Washington stunned the defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks. That gives each roster something positive to carry into a week complicated by travel, time zone changes and a different stadium environment. The Colts practiced in England before the matchup, a sign of how seriously the club treated the logistics.
A Series Rivalry That Has Been Quiet Since 2022
This is the first meeting between the Colts and Commanders since Week 8 of the 2022 season, when Washington won 17-16 on the road in Indianapolis. The margin was a single point, and the result still stands as Washington's most recent win in the series. The London setting adds another variable, but the game still counts the same in the standings.
For U.S. fans, the early kickoff makes this an easy game to watch before the main Sunday slate begins. For the NFL, it is the start of a three-game push to sell American football to British audiences. The result, though, belongs to the teams.