When does the NFL season start? The countdown to Week 1

After a long and excruciating wait, the 2026 NFL season is almost upon us, and it cannot come soon enough.

A mouthwatering rematch of Super Bowl LX between the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots kicks off the new campaign, followed by a first-ever game in Australia.

With live action, full replays, Game in 40, and highlights available for each game, watching the entire season unfold with an NFL Game Pass on DAZN has never been easier.

Here's your countdown to Week 1 of the 2026 NFL regular season.

Week 1 is only 6 days away!

The 2026 regular season schedule gets underway a day earlier than usual, with the league reserving the Thursday night slot for its first-ever game on Australian soil.

But before that game, there's the matter of this exciting curtain-raiser:

Week 1: Patriots vs. Seahawks

The scheduling gods have definitely made things fun for fans with this opener at Lumen Field, Seattle.

This rematch between the two Super Bowl finalists features no shortage of talent, with Drake Maye, A.J. Brown, and Christian Gonzalez going up against Sam Darnold, 2025 OPOY Jaxon Smith-Njigba, and Devon Witherspoon.

The Patriots have set their sights on revenge, making this showdown a must-watch.

How to watch the Patriots vs. Seahawks on DAZN

NFL Game Pass subscribers can tune in on DAZN at the following times to watch the action live.

• Kickoff UK (BST): 1.20am, Thursday, September 10
• Kickoff US (ET): 8.20pm, Wednesday, September 9
• Kickoff US (PT): 5.20pm, Wednesday, September 9
• Venue: Lumen Field, Seattle, United States

Week 1: 49ers vs. Rams

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Barely 24 hours later, we visit Melbourne, where the 49ers and Rams make history in the first NFL regular-season game in Australia.

Held at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), these division rivals will be going all out to emerge from Week 1 with the all-important W.

It promises to be a thriller, with stars such as Brock Purdy, Christian McCaffrey, and Mike Evans facing off against 2025 MVP Matthew Stafford, Puka Nacua, and reigning DPOY Myles Garrett.

How to watch the 49ers vs. Rams on DAZN

NFL Game Pass subscribers can tune in on DAZN at the following times to watch live.

• Kickoff UK (BST): 1.35am, Friday, September 11
• Kickoff US (ET): 8.35pm, Thursday, September 10
• Kickoff US (PT): 5.35pm, Thursday, September 10
• Kickoff Australia (AEST): 10.35am, Friday, September 11
• Venue: Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), Melbourne, Australia

Click here for a full game preview.

Watch every NFL game and extensive NCAA College Sports coverage only on DAZN

The 2026 NFL season is here, with a record nine international games, and Game Pass is the only place where you can catch every snap.

Features include American commentary throughout, plus RedZone, NFL Network, Game in 40, Sunday in 60, Multiview, and more, with prices starting at £179.99 per year or £18.99 per month.

And with extensive NCAA College Sports coverage available as a separate subscription and flag football available for free, DAZN remains your go-to for American football coverage.

Sign up for Game Pass on DAZN for full NFL coverage plus NCAA College Sports for the ultimate college sports experience.