Ted Karrass cuts an imposing figure on any football field. The Cincinnati Bengals offensive lineman stands six foot four and weighs 310 pounds, built to overpower the strongest competitors in professional sport. Lamine Yamal, by contrast, operates in a different physical realm entirely—roughly five inches shorter and nearly half the weight, his game built on technical brilliance and creative flair. The contrast between these two athletes could hardly be starker.
Yet this week, Karrass found himself occupying the same locker room space as the Barcelona winger while the Bengals prepared for their clash with the Atlanta Falcons at the Bernabéu. According to Sky Sports, the Bengals have been training at La Ciudad del Futbol, Spain's national team facility, ahead of Sunday's International Series matchup.
Karrass explained the practical reasoning behind his temporary accommodation.
I think it's just because where the offensive line is. Down the line. He's kind of in the middle over there, so it makes sense. It's a big honour.
The offensive lineman reflected on the broader significance of training in such proximity to world-class footballers.
It was a fun summer watching the World Cup, and congrats to Spain for winning, and it's cool to be in the vicinity of world champions, which is what we aspire to be.
Madrid marks the seventh of a record nine international games being staged during the 2026 campaign, with matches scheduled across seven countries and eight stadiums. The league's return to the Spanish capital underlines its commitment to expanding into new markets and building audiences beyond North America. The Bengals and Falcons will compete at the iconic Bernabéu on Sunday, with the game broadcast live on Sky Sports NFL from 2pm.
The Cincinnati squad arrived in Madrid as a substantial travelling party. The Bengals travelled with a 201-member delegation on an eight-hour flight, having chosen to conduct their final practice session in Cincinnati before departure. The team planned two practices in Madrid and took Wednesday off to acclimate to the new environment.
This represents Cincinnati's third international game and their first since travelling to London in 2019. The Bengals arrived in Spain carrying momentum, sitting at 5–2 heading into the fixture. The Falcons, meanwhile, arrived in considerably different circumstances. Atlanta entered the matchup at 3–5 after being shut out 16–0 by Tampa Bay, with quarterback Michael Penix Jr. throwing four interceptions in that defeat.
Beyond the football itself, the presence of Real Madrid's star players has captivated the visiting NFL contingent. Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins expressed his sense of wonder at the opportunity to travel across the Atlantic for the first time in his career.
Once I landed out here, I was just like, I can't believe I actually crossed the Atlantic. It's my first time ever, you know, crossing the Atlantic into Europe. So it's just like it's amazing to me, you know what I mean? Just knowing where I came from and even bringing my family out here because it's their first time as well. So it's pretty dope. It's surreal.
Real Madrid star Kylian Mbappé has indicated he may attend Sunday's game following Real's away fixture against Valencia on Saturday evening. Higgins expressed his enthusiasm at the prospect of seeing the French forward in person.
It'd be dope to have him there. I watch him on TV all the time. It's so crazy, bro. We was just talking about how fast this dude is, right? Like, how do you run that fast dribbling the ball on your feet? Like, that's crazy.
Atlanta running back Bijan Robinson has already begun making connections with Real's elite talent. Robinson plans to meet with both Vinícius Junior and Mbappé before Sunday's kickoff. On Thursday, he caught up with England midfielder Jude Bellingham, continuing a relationship that began through mutual acquaintances. Robinson explained that he first met Vinícius through a mutual jeweller when Brazil played in the United States several years ago, while Mbappé spent time experimenting with American football alongside Robinson during a promotional event the previous week.
Robinson leads the entire NFL with 780 rushing yards through eight weeks of the season, though his recent form has stalled. He has failed to record a 100-yard game in his last four outings, a stretch that has frustrated both player and coaching staff.
I've got to be better for this team. I've got to be better for the offense. Me and my running back coach, we always point this laser beam at the ceiling because we're always trying to play at the highest level. And for us, helping my team win games is us playing at the highest level.
What comes next
The Bengals and Falcons are scheduled to play at Bernabéu Stadium on November 8 at 3:30 p.m. Madrid time. The international schedule continues beyond Madrid, with the Patriots facing the Lions in Munich on November 15 and the Vikings taking on the 49ers in Mexico City on November 22.
Watch the 2026 NFL season live on Sky Sports, including every minute of the playoffs and Super Bowl LXI on Sunday February 14, 2027. Get Sky Sports or stream contract-free with NOW.
