Wed Sep 03 17:10:00 UTC 2025: **Summary:**

Due to the Sports Broadcasting Act of 1961, the NFL will not be able to hold a Friday night game during the opening week of the 2026 season. The act prohibits the broadcast of professional football within 75 miles of a high school or college game on Fridays and Saturdays between the second Friday in September and the second Saturday in December. Because Labor Day in 2026 falls later than usual, the traditional Thursday season opener will push the first Friday into the blackout period. The NFL has taken advantage of loopholes to hold Friday night games in recent years when Labor Day fell earlier. Meanwhile, the NFL is expanding its international presence, with games scheduled in Brazil, Ireland, London, Germany, Spain, and Australia.

**News Article:**

**NFL’s 2026 Season Opener to Forgo Friday Game Due to Broadcasting Act**

NEW YORK – Football fans eager for a Friday night NFL kickoff in 2026 will be disappointed, as the league announced Tuesday that it will not be able to hold a game that evening due to legal restrictions.

NFL executive vice president and COO Hans Schroeder confirmed the change stems from the Sports Broadcasting Act of 1961, which prohibits broadcasting professional football within 75 miles of high school or college games on Fridays and Saturdays between the second Friday in September and the second Saturday in December.

“With Labor Day falling on September 7th in 2026, our traditional Thursday opener pushes the first Friday into the prohibited zone,” explained Schroeder. “We are committed to adhering to the law while continuing to deliver exciting football to our fans.”

The Sports Broadcasting Act was designed to protect high school and college football viewership by preventing direct competition from professional games during their prime viewing times.

In the past few years, the NFL used a loophole by scheduling a Friday game during opening week, when Labor Day fell earlier than usual, allowing the season to start before the SBA blackout period kicked in. The Eagles-Packers international game in Brazil was played this way.

Meanwhile, the NFL continues to expand its global footprint. The 2026 season is set to begin with a historic regular-season game in Australia, at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, while the 2024 and 2025 seasons feature a robust international schedule, including games in Brazil, Ireland, London, Germany, and Spain. The league is hoping to expand its international games to 10 by the end of 2025.

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