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The 2026 NFL preseason is officially underway. It serves as a first look at top rookies, positional battles, and revamped rosters before games count. The season kicked off with the Hall of Fame Game between the Carolina Panthers and Arizona Cardinals in Canton, Ohio.
Across three weeks of exhibition action, all 32 teams will evaluate talent before trimming their rosters to 53 players. The regular season officially kicks off on Wednesday, September 9, featuring the defending champion Seattle Seahawks hosting the New England Patriots.
Fans in Ireland can follow the action through Sky Sports or DAZN. Viewers looking to stream overseas broadcasts or maintain connection privacy while travelling must use a VPN.
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NFL · Hall of Fame Game
Panthers vs Cardinals (Preseason Opener)
Aug 6 -29
7Plus is the official digital streaming platform for Australia’s Seven Network, holding exclusive free-to-air NFL rights down under. It offers select NFL preseason fixtures with local commentary.
As 7Plus is geo-restricted to Australia, you will need a VPN to stream its preseason coverage in Ireland. Here’s how:
Step 1: Subscribe to a reliable VPN service (Surfshark is the best VPN)
Step 2: Download and install the Surfshark VPN App on your device
Step 3: Open the app and connect to the Australian server.
Step 4: Visit the 7Plus official website and click on the profile icon in the top right corner
Step 5: Click on Register to make a new account, or sign in
Step 6: Add your personal information and Australian zip code (0872) to create an account
Step 7: Verify your account via email
Step 8: From Sports, select NFL
Step 9: Scroll down to the live and upcoming section
Step 10: Enjoy watching when it goes live!
For fans who want fuller preseason coverage on the go, Sky Sports offers the most comprehensive access to NFL exhibition games in Ireland each week.
You can subscribe to Sky Sports for €37/month, or access all 12 Sky Sports channels in HD via NOW‘s Sports Extra plan for €17/mo.
Here’s how you can watch NFL preseason on Sky Sports via NOW on mobile:
Step 1: Download the NOW app from the Play Store or APK
Step 2: Open the app and click on the sidebar
Step 3: Choose Sports Membership
Step 4: Select your plan and click Claim offer
Step 5: Click Checkout
Step 6: Create your account by clicking Continue to checkout or sign in with your existing one
Step 7: Enter your credentials
Step 8: Choose your payment plan and enter your credentials to subscribe. Enjoy streaming!
DAZN Ireland is an absolute home for the NFL preseason. It streams every single preseason game live across all 32 franchises and lets out-of-market fans watch full exhibition games plus behind-the-scenes training camp content.
In Ireland, DAZN NFL Game Pass is available exclusively through DAZN. It offers 1-week of free preseason matches. After that, it must be purchased separately from the standard DAZN subscription (it can also be bought as a standalone plan).
Have a look at the schedule of the NFL preseason (Weeks 2-3) in the Irish Timezone (IST) and date:
| Date | Match | Time (IST) |
|---|---|---|
| Week 2 | ||
| Aug 21 | Las Vegas Raiders at Houston Texans | 01:00 |
| Aug 21 | San Francisco 49ers at Los Angeles Chargers | 03:00 |
| Aug 22 | New York Jets at Pittsburgh Steelers | 00:00 |
| Aug 22 | Carolina Panthers at Jacksonville Jaguars | 00:30 |
| Aug 22 | Green Bay Packers at Denver Broncos | 02:00 |
| Aug 22 | Washington Commanders at Detroit Lions | 17:00 |
| Aug 22 | Buffalo Bills at Cleveland Browns | 18:00 |
| Aug 22 | Atlanta Falcons at Indianapolis Colts | 18:00 |
| Aug 22 | Baltimore Ravens at Minnesota Vikings | 18:00 |
| Aug 22 | New Orleans Saints at Los Angeles Rams | 21:00 |
| Aug 22 | New York Giants at Miami Dolphins | 21:00 |
| Aug 23 | Chicago Bears at Cincinnati Bengals | 00:00 |
| Aug 23 | Philadelphia Eagles at New England Patriots | 00:00 |
| Aug 23 | Kansas City Chiefs at Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 00:30 |
| Aug 23 | Dallas Cowboys at Arizona Cardinals | 03:00 |
| Aug 24 | Seattle Seahawks at Tennessee Titans | 01:00 |
| Week 3 | ||
| Aug 28 | Pittsburgh Steelers at Buffalo Bills | 00:00 |
| Aug 28 | New England Patriots at Cleveland Browns | 01:00 |
| Aug 28 | San Francisco 49ers at Las Vegas Raiders | 01:00 |
| Aug 28 | Los Angeles Rams at Los Angeles Chargers | 03:00 |
| Aug 28 | Washington Commanders at Baltimore Ravens | 23:00 |
| Aug 29 | Miami Dolphins at Atlanta Falcons | 00:00 |
| Aug 29 | Houston Texans at Carolina Panthers | 00:00 |
| Aug 29 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Jacksonville Jaguars | 00:30 |
Preseason is where roster battles are won and lost, and these three teams are worth keeping an eye on before Week 1.
| Seattle Seahawks Seattle enters preseason as defending Super Bowl champions after their win over the Patriots in Super Bowl LX, and fans will be watching closely to see how the roster shapes up for their title defence. |
| New England Patriots Last season’s AFC champions use preseason to fine-tune their roster ahead of an immediate rematch with the Seahawks to open the regular season. |
| Carolina Panthers The Panthers headline preseason as one half of the Hall of Fame Game, giving fans an early look at how the roster has developed heading into the new campaign. |
If you’re a sports fan, here’s a list of top international sports leagues you can catch in Ireland.
1. How many preseason games does each team play?
Most teams play three preseason games across the three exhibition weeks, with two teams also featuring in the Hall of Fame Game.
2. Where can I watch NFL preseason in Ireland?
Sky Sports (via NOW) and DAZN’s NFL Game Pass offer broader mobile coverage. 7Plus offers free coverage with a VPN connected to Australia.
3. When does the NFL regular season start?
The 2026-27 regular season begins on Wednesday, September 9, with the Seattle Seahawks hosting the New England Patriots.
4. Do preseason results count towards the standings?
No, preseason games are exhibition matches used for roster evaluation and player conditioning, and have no bearing on the regular season standings.
NFL preseason 2026 is your first look at all 32 teams before the regular season kicks off on September 9.
You can watch NFL preseason in Ireland via Sky Sports, DAZN’s NFL Game Pass, or 7Plus. However, you will need a VPN to unblock 7Plus in Ireland. Surfshark is our #1 choice.
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