ANN ARBOR, Mich. – Michigan football is working to move the site of the 2026 opener against Western Michigan to Germany, and also play it one week earlier.
The Wolverines announced Friday, July 25, 2025, that they’re in “ongoing discussions” to kick off the 2026 season at Deutsche Bank Park in Frankfurt, Hesse, Germany.
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Currently, the opener vs. Western Michigan is scheduled to be in Ann Arbor on Sept. 5, 2026. If it moves to Germany, the game will be on Saturday, Aug. 29, 2026.
It would be the first time Michigan has played a game outside North America.
“We are in advanced discussions to create this first-of-its-kind opportunity for our student-athletes and fans,” Michigan Athletic Director Warde Manuel said. “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 a 55,000-seat stadium with a retractable roof. It has hosted five NFL games.
“I am excited about the football and educational experience this game could provide for our players,” Michigan head Coach Sherrone Moore said. “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.”