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CBS News
4 days ago
- Sport
- CBS News
Michigan, Western Michigan in talks to open 2026 football season in Germany
The University of Michigan and Western Michigan University are in talks to open their 2026 football season on foreign soil in Germany, the two schools announced Friday. The Wolverines would host the Broncos at Deutsche Bank Park in Frankfurt, Hesse, Germany, on Saturday, Aug. 29, 2026. It would mark the first non-conference game Michigan has played outside of North America and the first time the Wolverines have played a Mid-American Conference school away from Michigan Stadium. "We are in advanced discussions to create this first-of-its-kind opportunity for our student-athletes and fans," said Warde Manuel, the Donald R. Shepherd Director of Athletics. "The University of Michigan is one of the few worldwide brands in college athletics and the interest in playing an international game would be unique. This would be a great opportunity to teach 'Go Blue' to a new group of fans in Germany." Deutsche Bank Park is home to Eintracht Frankfurt of the Bundesliga, which is the top level of professional soccer in Germany. The retractable roof stadium features 55,000 seats and has hosted two NFL regular season games. "I am excited about the football and educational experience this game could provide for our players," said Michigan head coach Sherrone Moore. "We are always looking for unique opportunities to expose our student-athletes to other cultures. In the last 10 years, our program has been to Italy, France and South Africa, and this game would provide another chance to grow our international fanbase." The European date would be the first game for the Broncos outside of North America and their second international contest. WMU's first international game was the 2007 International Bowl against Cincinnati at Rogers Centre in Toronto. "This is an incredible opportunity for our football program, our student-athletes, and the entire Western Michigan University community," said WMU head coach Lance Taylor in a statement. "To potentially open the 2026 season on an international stage against one of the most storied programs in college football is both an honor and an exciting challenge we would embrace wholeheartedly. An international game offers our players not only a unique competitive experience, but also an invaluable educational one. Traveling to Germany and representing Western Michigan University abroad will give our student-athletes cultural exposure and memories they'll carry long beyond their playing days. It's the kind of life experience that perfectly reflects the spirit and values of college athletics." The game was originally scheduled to be played at Michigan Stadium on Sept. 5. Michigan will release the date and location of he 2026 opener soon.
New York Times
4 days ago
- Business
- New York Times
Michigan, Western Michigan finalizing deal to open 2026 season in Germany
An agreement is being finalized for Michigan and Western Michigan to open the 2026 college football season in Frankfurt, Germany. The Week 0 matchup would be the first FBS college football game played on German soil. Both schools issued statements Friday confirming the planned game at Deutsche Bank Park, a 55,000-seat venue that is home to Eintracht Frankfurt of the Bundesliga, Germany's top professional soccer league. The NFL brought two regular-season games to Deutsche Bank Park in 2023, one featuring the Chiefs and Dolphins, and the other featuring the Colts and Patriots. Advertisement 'We are always looking for unique opportunities to expose our student-athletes to other cultures,' Michigan coach Sherrone Moore said. 'In the last 10 years, our program has been to Italy, France and South Africa, and this game would provide another chance to grow our international fanbase.' International games have become a staple of college football's Week 0 schedule. Kansas State and Iowa State will kick off the 2025 season at Dublin's Aviva Stadium, site of previous openers between Florida State and Georgia Tech, Notre Dame and Navy and Nebraska and Northwestern. TCU and North Carolina are set to play a Week 0 game in Dublin next season. Michigan has been approached about playing international games in the past, and former coach Jim Harbaugh hinted in 2019 that Michigan was close to announcing a game outside of the U.S. The biggest hurdle was Michigan's reluctance to move a game away from Michigan Stadium, the largest venue in college football and a major source of revenue for the athletic department. Michigan boasts a streak of 323 home games played in front of 100,000 fans or more, excluding the 2020 season when attendance was limited during the COVID-19 pandemic. An average home game generates about $8 million for the school and brings tens of thousands of visitors to Ann Arbor. Michigan has a goal of playing seven home games each season to balance its budget. The program projected a $15 million budget gap for the upcoming fiscal year due to costs related to revenue sharing and the House settlement. Michigan will play six home games this season after playing eight last year. The Western Michigan game, previously scheduled for Sept. 5, 2026, at Michigan Stadium, would be moved to Aug. 29, leaving Michigan with home games against Oklahoma, UTEP, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan State, Penn State and UCLA. Advertisement The proposed matchup would be the first played outside of North America for both programs. 'The opportunity to be a part of the first college football game played in Germany presents an experience for our program that is unmatched at any level of college football and puts the university on an international stage,' Western Michigan athletic director Dan Bartholomae said. 'We can't wait for the world to see all of the great academic, community, and athletic accomplishments happening at Western Michigan University.'
Washington Post
4 days ago
- Sport
- Washington Post
Michigan in discussions to kick off 2026 football season in Germany
ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Michigan is having discussions about kicking off the 2026 football season against Western Michigan in Germany. The school announced Friday on social media that it is seeking to play at Deutsche Bank Park in Frankfurt on Aug. 29, 2026. It would be the first game the Wolverines would play outside of North America.
Al Arabiya
4 days ago
- Sport
- Al Arabiya
Michigan In Discussions To Kick Off 2026 Football Season In Germany
Michigan is having discussions about kicking off the 2026 football season against Western Michigan in Germany. The school announced Friday on social media that it is seeking to play at Deutsche Bank Park in Frankfurt on August 29, 2026. It would be the first game the Wolverines would play outside of North America. Athletic director Warde Manuel said in a statement this would be a first-of-its-kind opportunity for the Wolverines and their fans. The University of Michigan is one of the few worldwide brands in college athletics and the interest in playing an international game would be unique, Manuel said. This would be a great opportunity to teach Go Blue to a new group of fans in Germany. Home to Eintracht Frankfurt of Bundesliga, the stadium features a retractable roof with a capacity of 55,000. Deutsche Bank Park has hosted five NFL games, including two regular-season games in 2023. Michigan coach Sherrone Moore said they're always looking for unique opportunities for their players, noting the program has been to Italy, France, and South Africa over the past decade. The game would require a rescheduling of Michigan's home opener that's currently set for September 5. This game would provide another chance to grow our international fanbase, Moore said.
Associated Press
4 days ago
- Sport
- Associated Press
Michigan in discussions to kick off 2026 football season in Germany
ANN ARBOR, Mich. (AP) — Michigan is having discussions about kicking off the 2026 football season against Western Michigan in Germany. The school announced Friday on social media that it is seeking to play at Deutsche Bank Park in Frankfurt on Aug. 29, 2026. It would be the first game the Wolverines would play outside of North America. Athletic director Warde Manuel said in a statement this would be a 'first-of-its-kind opportunity' for the Wolverines and their fans. 'The University of Michigan is one of the few worldwide brands in college athletics and the interest in playing an international game would be unique,' Manuel said. 'This would be a great opportunity to teach 'Go Blue' to a new group of fans in Germany.' Home to Eintracht Frankfurt of Bundesliga, the stadium features a retractable roof with a capacity of 55,000. Deutsche Bank Park has hosted five NFL games, including two regular-season games in 2023. Michigan coach Sherrone Moore said they're always looking for unique opportunities for their players, noting the program has been to Italy,France and South Africa over the past decade. The game would require a rescheduling of Michigan's home opener that's currently set for Sept. 5. 'This game would provide another chance to grow our international fanbase,' Moore said. ___ AP college football:
