2026 NFL Preseason Begins with Hall of Fame Game

The long wait for American football fans is finally over as the NFL preseason gets underway with a traditional matchup. The historic Hall of Fame game features the Arizona Cardinals squaring off against the Carolina Panthers.

This special 2026 edition also celebrates the official induction of legendary figures like Drew Brees, Roger Craig, and Adam Vinatieri. Following this opening exhibition, fans will have exactly one month remaining until the official regular season Kick-Off.

The upcoming schedule includes three intensive weeks of preseason action to help teams prepare. The first full week of preseason games is scheduled to begin shortly and will run through late August.

Once the preseason concludes, attention will shift immediately to Week 1 and its highly anticipated opening matchups. Notably, the opening game of the campaign will feature the champion Seattle Seahawks taking on the New England Patriots on a Wednesday.

Additionally, the Los Angeles Rams are scheduled to play a historic regular season game in Melbourne, Australia against the San Francisco 49ers.