Antoine Griezmann could not hide his frustration after learning the Cincinnati Bengals will face the Atlanta Falcons in Madrid this season.
The matchup is exactly the kind of NFL game Griezmann would want in Spain. It brings Joe Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase, and Bijan Robinson to one of Europe’s biggest stadiums.
That is what made his reaction stand out. Griezmann loved the game choice, but admitted it hurt because he will not be able to attend.
Antoine Griezmann loves the Bengals-Falcons matchup in Madrid
As SleeperBengals shared, Antoine Griezmann was excited when he found out the Bengals would play the Falcons in Spain.
“Oh, Bengals! Very good,” Griezmann said. “Joe Burrow. I will not be there. I will not be there. Very good. Two league stars-Well, three: Bijan Robinson with the Falcons and Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase from the Bengals.”
He added, “Amazing game. It hurts me a lot because I won’t be there. Don’t miss it, because it’s going to be amazing.”
Griezmann’s excitement made sense. The Bengals bring one of the NFL’s most recognizable quarterback-receiver pairings in Burrow and Chase, while Atlanta offers a major offensive star in Robinson.
For a European NFL fan, that is a premium regular-season matchup. It also gives Madrid another major American football showcase at the Bernabéu.
Antoine Griezmann to miss NFL’s Madrid showcase at the Bernabeu
The Bengals-Falcons game is scheduled for Nov. 8, 2026, at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium. Atlanta will be the designated home team, with the game set for a 9:30 a.m. ET kickoff on NFL Network.
The exact reason Griezmann can’t attend has not been confirmed, but the most likely explanation is a schedule conflict, given that the match falls during the European soccer season.
That timing would make it difficult for an active player to attend an NFL game in Madrid, especially after joining the MLS.
Griezmann has long been known as a serious American sports fan, and his reaction showed that he understands the star power in this matchup.
For Griezmann, the painful part is simple. The league is bringing one of the games he clearly wanted to see, but he will have to watch from somewhere else.
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