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Dallas Cowboys Future Opponents: 2026-2030 Schedules & Brazil Game Details

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  • Post published:January 2, 2026
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Who are the Dallas Cowboys’ future opponents? The Dallas Cowboys’ future opponents are determined years in advance by the NFL’s rotating scheduling formula, which ensures the team plays every NFL franchise at least once every four years. While official dates and times are released each May, the home and away matchups for the 2026, 2027, and 2028 seasons are already locked in. Below is the full year-by-year list of future opponents for the Dallas Cowboys through 2028 Below is the full year-by-year list of future opponents for the Dallas Cowboys through 2028, including the recently confirmed 2026 International Game in Brazil. While the NFL schedule is officially released year-by-year, the league’s rotating formula allows us to project the Cowboys’ home and away opponents through the 2030 season.

Dallas Cowboys Future Opponents and Schedules

Dallas Cowboys Future Opponents

We break down the Dallas Cowboys future opponents and schedules starting with 2026, including clear home/away designations. Note that some matchups in later years (especially the “17th game” based on standings) are still TBD and will be finalized after the prior season ends. Opponents are subject to minor changes, but the rotation is locked in. Now, if and when we go to an 18-game season, we’ll come back and add the appropriate game to the given year for you. 

Year Dallas Cowboys Schedule
20262026 Dallas Cowboys Schedule
20272027 Dallas Cowboys Schedule
2028Coming Soon
2029Coming Soon
2030Coming Soon
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2026 Dallas Cowboys Opponents and Schedule

In 2026, the Cowboys are slated for a challenging schedule featuring the entire NFC West and AFC South, plus positional matchups from the NFC South and NFC North. The highlight of the season is a Week 3 trip to South America for the first-ever NFL game in Brazil.

Home OpponentsAway Opponents
New York Giantsat New York Giants
Philadelphia Eaglesat Philadelphia Eagles
Washington Commandersat Washington Commanders
Baltimore Ravens (Rio, Brazil)at Houston Texans
San Francisco 49ersat Indianapolis Colts
Arizona Cardinalsat Los Angeles Rams
Jacksonville Jaguarsat Seattle Seahawks
Tennessee Titansat Green Bay Packers (Positional)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Positional)

2027 Dallas Cowboys Opponents & Schedule

2027 Dallas Cowboys Opponents & Schedule The rotation shifts in 2027, with matchups against the NFC South and AFC East. Because 2027 is an odd-numbered year, the Cowboys will play 8 home games and 9 away games.

Future Planning: Detailed 2027 Dallas Cowboys Opponent Breakdown

Home OpponentsAway Opponents
New York Giantsat New York Giants
Philadelphia Eaglesat Philadelphia Eagles
Washington Commandersat Washington Commanders
Atlanta Falconsat New England Patriots
Carolina Panthersat New Orleans Saints
Buffalo Billsat New York Jets
Miami Dolphinsat Tampa Bay Buccaneers
NFC West TBD (Positional)at NFC North TBD (Positional)
at AFC West TBD (Positional)

2028 Dallas Cowboys Opponents & Schedule

Looking further ahead to 2028, the Cowboys will take on the NFC North and AFC North.

Home OpponentsAway Opponents
New York GiantsNew York Giants
Philadelphia EaglesPhiladelphia Eagles
Washington CommandersWashington Commanders
Chicago BearsBaltimore Ravens
Detroit LionsCincinnati Bengals
Cleveland BrownsGreen Bay Packers
Pittsburgh SteelersMinnesota Vikings
NFC South TBD (positional)NFC West TBD (positional)
AFC South TBD (positional)

These future opponent lists are based on the official NFL scheduling formula and r We’ll update this page as more details (like exact TBD matchups) are confirmed after each season.

2029 Dallas Cowboys Opponents & Schedule

The 2029 season is headlined by the return of the AFC West to the Cowboys’ schedule, meaning a highly anticipated matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs. This season also sees the NFC West rotation reset.

Home OpponentsAway Opponents
New York Giantsat New York Giants
Philadelphia Eaglesat Philadelphia Eagles
Washington Commandersat Washington Commanders
Kansas City Chiefsat Denver Broncos
Los Angeles Chargersat Las Vegas Raiders
Los Angeles Ramsat Arizona Cardinals
Seattle Seahawksat San Francisco 49ers
NFC South TBD (Positional)at NFC North TBD (Positional)
AFC East TBD (17th Game)

2030 Dallas Cowboys Opponents & Schedule

For the 2030 season, the Cowboys will match up against the NFC South and AFC South divisions. As an even-numbered year, the Cowboys are slated to have nine home games at AT&T Stadium.

Home OpponentsAway Opponents
New York Giantsat New York Giants
Philadelphia Eaglesat Philadelphia Eagles
Washington Commandersat Washington Commanders
Houston Texans (Governor’s Cup)at Jacksonville Jaguars
Indianapolis Coltsat Tennessee Titans
New Orleans Saintsat Atlanta Falcons
Tampa Bay Buccaneersat Carolina Panthers
NFC North TBD (Positional)at NFC West TBD (Positional)
AFC North TBD (17th Game)

How the NFL Scheduling Formula Works

While the exact dates and times are not released until May of each year, the opponents are determined years in advance by the NFL’s rotating scheduling formula. Every team’s 17-game schedule is built using these five pillars:

  1. Division Rivals (6 Games): Home and away against the Eagles, Giants, and Commanders.
  2. Rotating NFC Division (4 Games): You face one entire division from the NFC on a three-year cycle.
  3. Rotating AFC Division (4 Games): You face one entire division from the AFC on a four-year cycle.
  4. Conference Seed Matchups (2 Games): You play the teams from the other two NFC divisions that finished in the same rank as you the previous season.
  5. The 17th Game (1 Game): A non-conference matchup against a team that finished in the same rank as you, rotating through the opposing conference’s divisions annually.

Frequently Asked Questions: Dallas Cowboys Future Opponents

How are the Cowboys’ future opponents determined? The NFL uses a standard scheduling formula. Dallas plays six games against NFC East rivals, four games against a rotating NFC division, and four games against a rotating AFC division. The final three games are determined by the previous year’s divisional standings.

When will the Cowboys play the Kansas City Chiefs again? The Cowboys most recently faced the AFC West in 2025. Under the standard four-year rotation, Dallas is not scheduled to play the Chiefs in the regular season again until 2029. However, an earlier matchup could occur if both teams finish in the same divisional rank during a year when the AFC West is designated for the NFL’s “17th Game” inter-conference rotation.

Where can I find a printable Cowboys future opponent list? You can download a high-resolution, multi-year printable PDF of the Dallas Cowboys’ future opponents directly from this page, covering matchups through the 2030 season.

Do the Cowboys play more home or away games in the future? Under the 17-game schedule, the NFL alternates yearly between having nine home games and nine away games. In 2026, the Cowboys and the rest of the NFC are scheduled to have nine regular-season home games.

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Will Lewis Editor, Author
Will Lewis has covered sports for over 18 years, specializing in bracketology, tournament predictions, and in-depth analysis across college hoops, NFL, NBA, NHL, MLB, and more. March Madness is his favorite season, fueling his quest for perfect brackets before diving into pro playoffs. A lifelong Kentucky Wildcats fan, Bengals supporter since the Joe Montana era, and now a Padres devotee, Will delivers reliable, fan-first insights at Sports Brackets. Connect on X or comment. He loves talking brackets and more.