With the Western Michigan game staying at Michigan Stadium on its original date, the Wolverines are set to play eight home games in 2026. Raj Mehta / Getty
Michigan and Western Michigan won’t open the 2026 college football season in Germany after all.
The schools announced in July that they were in talks to move their game from Ann Arbor to Deutsche Bank Park in Frankfurt, Germany, in Week 0. After pushback from fans unhappy with the idea of moving a game away from Ann Arbor, Michigan announced Wednesday that the game would be played Sept. 5 at Michigan Stadium as originally scheduled.
“We did a thorough and exhaustive evaluation in relation to playing an international game,” Michigan athletic director Warde Manuel said. “Based on the analysis of all the factors, we felt it was best to keep the game in Ann Arbor as it was originally scheduled for the 2026 season.”
Eintracht Frankfurt, a German professional soccer club that plays in the Bundesliga, was involved in the negotiations to bring a college football game to its home stadium. The planned matchup was announced before the NCAA suspended Michigan coach Sherrone Moore for the 2026 season opener as part of its ruling in the Connor Stalions impermissible scouting investigation.
Michigan has explored international games in the past, and Manuel didn’t rule out playing overseas in the future. With the Western Michigan game staying at Michigan Stadium on its original date, the Wolverines are set to play eight home games in 2026.
“We have fans and alumni around the globe, and many have expressed excitement about attending a game on foreign soil,” Manuel said. “We remain open to exploring the right opportunities for our teams to play internationally.”
Nov 8, 2025
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