Whoopi Goldberg apologizes for laughing at “ANTM” model falling off runway 15 years ago: 'One of the funniest things'

ABC; The CW

After finding herself caught up in the ongoingAmerica's Next Top Modelreckoning,The ViewcohostWhoopi Goldberghas publicly apologized for laughing at a formerANTMcontestant's expense onTyra Banks' modeling reality show.

In response to finding out thatNetflix's newReality Check: Inside America's Next Top Modeldocuseries included brief 2010 clip of Goldberg laughing atcycle 14 contestant AlexandraUnderwood falling off of a runway plagued by moving pendulums, the Oscar-winningGhostactress offered an apology to the model on Wednesday's live episode of the talk show.

"Here's something I want to do, because in this documentary there's a clip from our show, where I had showed the ladies this thing. Now, this was, to me, one of the funniest things I had ever seen in my life," Goldberg, 70, said as old footage played of her onThe Viewlaughing at Underwood's spill — which saw a giant pendulum knock the model off of a runway during the cycle 14 competition.

"You still say that," panelistSara Hainesadded, which Goldberg confirmed.

Daniel Garriga/CBS Photo Archive/Getty; Netflix

"I do. I know, but I wanted to apologize, because there's a person who got knocked off there, and her name is Alexandra Underwood from cycle 14. I'm sorry I laughed at this," Goldberg said. "I couldn't help it, it was funny as hell. But, I am telling you it's one of the funniest things, if I had to point to something, it is one of the funniest thing I've sever seen."

Haines again cut in to save Goldberg's apology, hugging Goldberg as she quipped, "What she means is she's sorry she's still laughing about it!"

Guest cohost Savannah Chrisley jumped in to add, "Back then, I'm sorry, we're held to a different standard now. People tip-toe a lot more in today's day and age," which prompted Goldberg to clarify her words again.

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"I have fallen down. You have to take it when people are laughing, but this is maybe 10 years ago, and she's a grown-up now, a grown woman, maybe she's got kids, and I just wanted her to know that I wasn't laughing [at her], I was laughing because to me people slipping and falling [is funny]," Goldberg said.

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Comedian Joy Behar finished the segment by voicing a long-standing adage: "When I fall, it's tragedy. When you fall, it's comedy."

Entertainment Weeklyhas reached out to Underwood for a response.

Hulu; Amazon Prime

The Viewcohost's words join a wealth ofANTMpersonalities who also spoke out about the show.Reality Checkincludes multiple interviews with Banks, former judges Jay Manuel, Nigel Barker, and Miss J. Alexander, as well as multiple contestants and producer Ken Mok.

Topics covered include allegations of sexual harassment and instances where models were tasked with darkening their skin to portray women of different races in photo shoots.

EW previously conducted a 20th anniversary oral history onANTMwith 14 past contestants speaking out onshocking moments from the program, including the switching-races shoots that took place on cycles 4 and 14.

"I kept saying, 'You guys are putting me in blackface,'"cycle 13's Jennifer An previously told EW, alleging that the show's team pinned her hair "so they could 'fro my hair out" to complete her evolution into a woman with African heritage. "They definitely didn't show any of that footage."

In a statement to EW at the time of the 2023 interviews, a spokesperson for Banks said that the intention of the shoots were to combat an industry where "lighter skin and straight hair were pervasive beauty standards," which "perpetuated deep insecurities within women." The spokesperson maintained that such shoots were "meant to be a moment celebrating and spotlighting underrepresented ideologies of beauty — textured hair and darker skin — on a global scale."

Reality Check: Inside America's Next Top Modelis now streaming on Netflix.

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February 18, 2026

Whoopi Goldberg apologizes for laughing at “ANTM” model falling off runway 15 years ago: 'One of the funniest things'

ABC; The CW After finding herself caught up in the ongoingAmerica's Next Top Modelreckoning,The Viewcohost...

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“The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” Season 4 Trailer Confirms Demi Engemann's Return After MomTok Falling Out

An official trailer for season 4 of The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives was released on Feb. 18, and once again, MomTok's future seems uncertain

NEED TO KNOW

• The sneak peek shows big moments for the reality stars, like Taylor Frankie Paul's casting as The Bachelorette and Whitney Leavitt and Jennifer Affleck on Dancing with the Stars

• The show's highly anticipated upcoming installment will premiere on March 12 on Hulu

The Secret Lives of Mormon Wivesis returning for a fourth season, and MomTok is looking to be as full of drama as ever.

Theofficial trailerfor the upcoming installment of the Hulu reality series was released on Wednesday, Feb. 18, and it spotlights all of the cast members' biggest recent achievements. As always, the high-highs — likeTaylor Frankie Paul's casting asThe BacheloretteandWhitney LeavittandJennifer Affleck's run onDancing with the Stars— are complemented by some tough blows teased in the sneak peek.

"Everyone is going after their dreams, but it potentially could pull us apart,"Layla Taylorsays at one point in the trailer, which also glimpses her appearance walking in New York Fashion Week.

Many were left wondering whether or not Demi Engemann would be moving forward with the series after she was at the center of several controversies shown during season 3, from herVanderpump Villafallout to her Halloween party run-in with Chase McWhorter and more. She was also notably absent fromthe season 4 teaser trailerreleased in January and is not featured alongside the cast in the official artwork for the new season.

However, Engemann is confirmed to be part of the cast, though the trailer sees her peering down alternative career paths, like singing. One snippet sees her crooning into a microphone, seemingly recording a song.

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Relationships will also wind up and unravel over the course of season 4. Less than two weeks ago, Taylor confirmedshe split fromher boyfriendmMason McWhorter,in an emotionalTikTok video. In the trailer, though, the now-exes are seen showing affection at an earlier point in their romance.

One year out from Paul's breakup with ex Dakota Mortensen, she is shown telling confessional cameras, "It's time for me to do whatever I want to do with whoever I want to do." While the details of her pursuits have yet to be revealed, the group is shown hanging out with fellow reality starHarry Jowsey.

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE'sfree daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Even with specifics left to be seen in episodes to come, the group is sure to be tested as they balance their personal lives with their presence on a public stage. Later in the trailer, Paul can be seen crying in a hospital bed just after Jessi Ngatikaura asks aloud, "Is she gonna be a pregnantBachelorette?"

Season 4 ofThe Secret Lives of Mormon Wiveswill premiere on March 12, with all 10 episodes streaming on Hulu and Hulu on Disney+.

Read the original article onPeople

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February 18, 2026

“The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” Season 4 Trailer Confirms Demi Engemann's Return After MomTok Falling Out

An official trailer for season 4 of The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives was released on Feb. 18, and once again, MomTok'...

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“The View” cohosts shake heads, shut down Savannah Chrisley's false claim about AOC on air: 'No, no, no!'

Mere days into herweek-long guest-cohosting gigonThe View, reality starSavannah Chrisleyhas already been shut down by the permanent panelists over a false claim she made about Rep.Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.

The moment came at the top of Wednesday's broadcast, as the cohosts led the show's Hot Topics discussion about Ocasio-Cortez's heavily criticized handling of a question about Taiwan at the Munich Security Conference on Feb. 13.

AsJoy Beharcountered pushback to AOC's response — which included the New York congresswoman pausing for several moments during the scattered reply — she urged critics to focus on Donald Trump's multiple on-camera mishaps instead: "Check him out before you start attacking AOC," the 83-year-old quipped.

"Mispronouncing a word is totally different than not knowing your position on Taiwan. What's important is how you recover from something. Trump, he's done things, and then he's continued on with his speech, and then continued on to meet with world leaders. So, the recovery is what matters, and AOC just didn't have a recovery," theChrisley Knows Bestpersonality said, while Behar stressed, "He does it over and over again, how about the quantity?"

ModeratorWhoopi Goldbergreplied to Chrisley by stressing that Trump "is the president," and that she can put up with fumbled answers "from congresspeople" because in that case "that's on you." But, she "can't take it from the guy who says he's the leader of the free world."

Still, Chrisley dug in, claiming, "I understand that wholeheartedly. AOC, though, is also the Democrats' pick for the next election."

The panel quickly pushed back at Chrisley's assessment, with Goldberg andSara Hainesshaking their heads while the Oscar-winningGhostactress repeated, "No, no, no!" while Behar added, "You better tell that to Gavin Newsom!"

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Legal expertSunny Hostinthen elaborated, pointing out that Ocasio-Cortez has "made it pretty clear that she's not running for president" in 2028.

Ocasio-Cortez recently maintained that she's not entering the 2028 race for president following Trump's second term, stressing to theNew York Timesthat she attended the conference in Munich "not because I'm running for president, not because I've made some kind of decision about a horse race or a candidacy, but because we need to sound the alarm bells that a lot of those folks in nicely pressed suits in that room will not be there much longer if we do not do something about the runaway inequality that is fueling far-right populist movements."

Stephani Spindel/VIEWpress via Getty

Chrisley is at the Hot Topics table through the week, filling in for fellow conservative personalityAlyssa Farah Griffin, who temporarily departed the show last week afterthe birth of her first son.

Other guest panelists slated to sit in Griffin's seat during her maternity leave include Amanda Carpenter, Sheryl Underwood, comedian Whitney Cummings, and formerViewcohost Elisabeth Hasselbeck, whopublicly slammed Behar and the show in early 2025.

The Viewairs weekdays on ABC.

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February 18, 2026

“The View” cohosts shake heads, shut down Savannah Chrisley's false claim about AOC on air: 'No, no, no!'

Mere days into herweek-long guest-cohosting gigonThe View, reality starSavannah Chrisleyhas already been shut down by the...

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Abortion clinics are closing, even in states that have become key access points

Dozens of abortion clinics closed in the US after the Supreme Court Dobbs decision revoked the federal right to an abortion in June 2022 — mostly in states that enacted bans. But the churn has continued, leaving even states with some of the most protective abortion policies to do more with less.

There were 753 brick-and-mortar abortion clinics in the US at the end of 2025, according toa new reportby the Guttmacher Institute — ​54 fewer than in ​2020, including a net loss of 12 abortion clinics since March 2024.

"Running a clinic in an environment like we have today is oftentimes not sustainable," said ​Brittany Fonteno, president and CEO of the National Abortion Federation. Both financial and community support play critical roles, she said.

In New York, abortion is legal and protected; voters enshrined the right to abortion in the state's constitution in 2024. But the state has eight fewer abortion clinics than it did at the start of 2024, Guttmacher data shows, one of the most significant decreases in that timeframe nationwide.

Among the clinics that closed last year was a Planned Parenthood in New York City, the nonprofit's only location in Manhattan.

The closure was "a big blow," said Chelsea Williams-Diggs, executive director of the New York Abortion Access Fund.

"All clinic closures are a travesty," she said. "But the Planned Parenthood on Bleecker Street was a powerhouse of a clinic that was able to do so much for folks."

Planned Parenthood typically accepts a wider set of insurance coverage than smaller independent clinics can, and locations in New York could often enroll eligible patients in Medicaid on the same day as their appointment. The clinic in Manhattan was also one of a small and shrinking number that provide abortions after the first trimester, which can be particularly expensive.

"That has direct impacts on abortion access and on abortion funds," Williams-Diggs said. "If more folks don't have health insurance, if more folks are strained economically, that means more folks will be calling NYAAF to help them pay for an essential health care service."

In a statement about the closure, the president and CEO of Planned Parenthood of Greater New York said that "the gap between inflation and stagnant reimbursement rates has forced us to make difficult but necessary decisions."

Additionalmoves by the Trump administrationhave further strained clinics, including a block on Medicaid reimbursement to large abortion providers. Planned Parenthood closed more than 50 health centers last year, some of which provided abortion care.

Clinics are left with "unsustainable financial realities," said Angela Vasquez-Giroux, vice president of communications for the Planned Parenthood Federation of America.

"When a health center is forced to close, all patients lose access to their trusted provider, and entire communities are left unable to get high-quality reproductive health care, including abortion in many places," she said. "These are not easy decisions to make."

It's important to track changes to the number of brick-and-mortar abortion clinics in the US, said ​Rachel Jones, a principal research scientist with Guttmacher and lead author of the new report. But the overall change in the number of clinics is only one measure of abortion access that can mask a lot of nuance, she said.

"If it's a place that doesn't advertise that they provide abortion care, then it's not really accessible to a lot of people. If it's a place that only takes private health insurance or you have to be a pre-existing client, that's not necessarily going to make abortion care accessible to people," Jones said. "If you want a procedural abortion and they only offer medication abortion then you might still have to travel outside of your community or even to another state to access care."

Since the Dobbs decision, the number of people who travel out-of-state for abortion care each year has doubled — and about a quarter of those who travel go to Illinois.

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The state has become a critical access point for abortion care, welcoming tens of thousands of patients from other states each year — but there are fewer clinics to serve this surge in patients. Illinois had 31 brick-and-mortar abortion clinics at the end of 2025, two fewer than in March 2024, according to the new Guttmacher report.

However, experts say that a strong network of support from the community and policymakers make Illinois particularly resilient. So while number of clinics in the state dropped overall, there were some important additions.

Hope Clinic opened a second location in Illinois last summer, offering abortions up to 34 weeks and other reproductive health care services in the uptown neighborhood of Chicago.

Clinic co-owner Julie Burkhart said that the team started talking about where another clinic might be needed in the country soon after the Dobbs decision, but it took nearly three full years to open their doors in Chicago. About half of that time was spent on construction after purchasing a building.

"We took a look around the country to see where abortion care, specifically later in pregnancy, would be needed and essential for people in this country, and it seemed that Chicago, was the best point for us to locate a new clinic," Burkhart said. "But these projects definitely don't happen overnight."

Telehealth abortion — with medication abortion provided to patients through the mail — has become increasingly common since it first became an option in late 2021.

In the first half of 2025, more than a quarter of all abortions within the US health care system were provided via telehealth, up from less than 10% in the first half of 2023, according todata from #WeCount, a project sponsored by the Society of Family Planning.

But the vast majority of abortions still happen in person, sometimes because of individual preference and sometimes because it's necessary.

And experts say that later abortions that require in-person care are becoming more common amid post-Dobbs restrictions.

"When there are abortion bans and people can't get access to the care they need earlier in pregnancy, that doesn't necessarily stop their need for that care," Fonteno said. "So one of the outcomes of abortion bans is seeing people be pushed further into their pregnancy by the time they get the care that they need, so we are seeing more providers focus on sort of this specialty form of abortion care."

Hope Clinics in Illinois have seen patients from 28 different states, Burkhart said.

"I think that that really illustrates how critical our clinics are," she said.

There is also concern among abortion advocates that the federal government may put new limits on access to medication abortion, which could further strain clinic resources.

The Trump administration isconducting its own reviewabout the safety and efficacy of one of the drugs used in medication abortion to investigate how it can be safely dispensed, despite clinical studies and decades of use that have established the drug's safety and effectiveness.

But providers are already thinking through possible contingency plans, Fonteno said.

"One of the things that is so incredible about abortion providers is that there's a lot of resilience and a lot of energy to continue to innovate and think about different ways to provide care," Fonteno said. "Brick-and-mortar clinics will always have a place in communities across the country."

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February 18, 2026

Abortion clinics are closing, even in states that have become key access points

Dozens of abortion clinics closed in the US after the Supreme Court Dobbs decision revoked the federal right to an aborti...

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The children of late civil rights leader Jesse Jackson honor his legacy a day after his death

CHICAGO (AP) — From jokes about his well-known stubbornness to tears grieving the loss of a parent, the adult children of the Rev. Jesse L. Jackson Sr. gave an emotional tribute Wednesday honoring the legacy of the late civil rights icon, a day after his death.

Jesse Jackson

Jackson died Tuesdayat his home in Chicago after battling arare neurological disorderthat affected his ability to move and speak. Standing on the steps outside his longtime Chicago home, five of his children, including U.S. Rep. Jonathan Jackson, remembered him not only for his decades-long work in civil rights but also for his role as spiritual leader and father.

"Our father is a man who dedicated his life to public service to gain, protect and defend civil rights and human rights to make our nation better, to make the world more just, our people better neighbors with each other," said his youngest son, Yusef Jackson, fighting back tears at times.

The family said details on funeral arrangements for Jackson would be announced at a later time, but services will begin next week, with him lying in repose at the headquarters of the organization he founded, Rainbow/PUSH Coalition in Chicago, which his son Yusef oversees. Services will follow at a church large enough to accommodate expected crowds.

Jackson rose to prominence six decades ago as a protege of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., joining thevoting rights marchKing led from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama. King later dispatched Jackson to Chicago to launch Operation Breadbasket, a Southern Christian Leadership Conference effort to pressure companies to hire Black workers.

Jackson was with King on April 4, 1968, when the civil rights leader was slain.

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Remembrances have poured in worldwide for Jackson, including flowers left outside the home where large portraits of a smiling Jackson had been placed. But his children said he was a family man first.

"Our father took fatherhood very seriously," his eldest child, Santita Jackson, said. "It was his charge to keep."

His children's reflections were poetic in the style of the late civil rights icon — filled with prayer, tears and a few chuckles, including about disagreements that occur when growing up in a large, lively family.

His eldest son, Jesse Jackson Jr.,a former congressman, said his father's funeral services would welcome all, "Democrat, Republican, liberal and conservative, right wing, left wing — because his life is broad enough to cover the full spectrum of what it means to be an American."

The family asked only that those attending be respectful.

"If his life becomes a turning point in our national political discourse, amen," he said. "His last breath is not his last breath."

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February 18, 2026

The children of late civil rights leader Jesse Jackson honor his legacy a day after his death

CHICAGO (AP) — From jokes about his well-known stubbornness to tears grieving the loss of a parent, the adult children of...

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School districts cut ties with photo giant after social media posts about alleged Epstein ties

School districts across the country are reconsidering their picture day partnerships after social media posts pointed to a link between a major school photo company and a billionaire investor found in the Justice Department's files on convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

At least 10 districts across four states have canceled or paused their contracts with Lifetouch, the nation's largest school photographer. Other districts have announced they still plan to work with the company, while conducting ongoing reviews to ensure it is in the best interest of their students.

The controversy centers around Leon Black, who was an associate of Epstein's and the former CEO of Apollo Global Management, an investment fund that bought Lifetouch's parent company, Shutterfly, in September 2019.

In recent weeks, viral posts on Facebook and elsewhere have called Lifetouch's proximity to Epstein's orbit a "parental red flag,"and have warned families against allowing their children's photos and data to bekept by a company that could have been linkedto Epstein. There has been no evidence that has emerged that any children's photos were accessed inappropriately as news organizations review the thousands of Epstein documents released by the Department of Justice, and Lifetouch says on its website that when a student's photo is taken, "that image is safeguarded for families and schools, only, with no exceptions."

Lifetouch has called the alleged ties to Epstein "completely false." The company said it is committed to students' privacy and added that the timeline of events does not support a direct connection: Apollo's acquisition of Shutterfly came two months after Epstein was jailed on federal sex trafficking charges and a month after his suicide while awaiting trial.

"No Lifetouch executives have ever had any relationship or contact with Epstein and we have never shared student images with any third party, including Apollo," the company said in an email. "Apollo and its funds also have no role in Lifetouch's daily operations and have no access to student images."

Epstein and Black intersected as far back as 2001, when Epstein served as the director of Black's family foundation, a family statement in the Epstein files shows. Emails and texts in the trove of documents released by the Justice Department show the two had meetings over the years and indicate that Black received financial advice from Epstein. Black's full nameappears in the Epstein filesmore than 8,200 times, though some records may be duplicative.

Through his attorneys, Black declined to comment on Lifetouch.Citing health problemsthat he said were exacerbated by the public scrutiny over his dealings with Epstein, Black left Apollo Global Management in 2021, two years after the fund acquired Lifetouch's parent company.

Black's lawyer, Susan Estrich, has previously denied wrongdoing on his behalf.

Nonetheless, some families with schoolchildren feel uncomfortable.

East Texas mother Brittney McLain, who has three daughters, said she asked her children's school to cut ties with Lifetouch after she read about Shutterfly and Apollo's connection. When her kids' district, Malakoff Independent School District, announced last week that it was canceling Lifetouch's spring portraits, McLain was relieved — despite previously trusting the Lifetouch brand.

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"It just feels tainted," she said in a phone interview. "You have images, plus kids, plus data, that exist anywhere near corruption, and most parents — especially mothers — want distance."

Social media posts linking Lifetouch to Epstein and to broader conspiracy theories began to take off earlier this month. In one post onFeb. 3, an X account sympathetic to theunfounded QAnonandPizzagate conspiracy theoriesposted an 18-minute video that claimed Lifetouch, along with several other major brands, including Chuck E. Cheese, were part of a global child trafficking ring connected to Epstein. (In an email, Chuck E. Cheese said "There is no story here" and said its CEO was in the Epstein files only on a forwardedlist of conference speakersfrom 2018.)

NBC News identifiedseveral Feb. 5 postson Facebookand Xfrom accounts with as many as 324,000 followers that alleged photos of children taken by Lifetouch were at risk. Many Facebook posts used identical language, urging parents to "Ask questions" and "Protect your kids."One X postalone received 1.4 million views.

As online discussion increased, awidely-read Reddit postlast week from a self-identified teacher said the Epstein link caused their school to cancel picture day. The Reddit user did not identify the district but, by then, local news outlets in multiple states had reported that schools in their communities were scrambling to address parental concerns about Lifetouch.

NBC News reached out to 10 school districts in states including Texas, Arizona, Michigan and New Jersey that have announced they are canceling or suspending their contracts with Lifetouch. None responded other than Malakoff, which said in an email that "after feedback from our parents, we have decided to keep all photos in-house for the time being."

Lifetouch photographs more than 25 million students each year at over 50,000 schools,according to its website. The 90-year-old company has gone viral for more light-hearted matters in the past — such as whether the laser-themed photo backgrounds it offered in the 1980s were too corny.

Some school districts are still open to using Lifetouch despite the recent controversy. In California, Alisal Union School District administrators said they are figuring out how to proceed.

"The Alisal Union School District takes very seriously its responsibility to protect the safety and security of its students and families," the district said, adding: "A decision like that must be made through consultation with a variety of stakeholders, including parents, staff, and its Board members."

And at the 32,000-student Weber School District in Utah, public information officer Lane Findlay said it has been "evaluating the situation" since receiving a few concerns from parents. After speaking with a contact for Lifetouch in Utah, the district felt confident that students' information was safe.

"Whatever that connection is, it is so far removed from where we're at locally. It's just such a jump," Findlay said. "We're comfortable, confident that there's been no compromise of any type of student data, student photos, and we are going to continue our relationship with Lifetouch."

But McLain, the Texas mother of three, does not feel she can trust the photography company.

"I understand that there may or may not be a direct or current connection, but I think for many parents, that doesn't erase the discomfort," she said, "Even the perception of association matters when children are involved."

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February 18, 2026

School districts cut ties with photo giant after social media posts about alleged Epstein ties

School districts across the country are reconsidering their picture day partnerships after social media posts pointed to ...

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With second international game, the 49ers are already fighting uphill when it comes to a rough 2026 schedule

The San Francisco 49ers had injury issues that were out of their control this past season. They overcame those challenges to make the playoffs, but missing several key players undoubtedly capped their potential to make a deeper run.

The NFL's league year doesn't even start until March, but we already know the 49ers have another massive roadblock awaiting them.

The 49ers announced they will play in Mexico City during the 2026 NFL regular season. That's not too unusual, but it is unprecedented that they'll play two international games next season in different continents. Add on the 49ers' announced game in Australia against the Los Angeles Rams, and suddenly travel becomes a big issue.

The 49ers will travel more miles than anyone in the NFL next season and more than any team ever has. That's a hefty challenge no other team is going to be dealing with next season.

A new record for the 49ers

The 49ers will travel more than 38,000 miles. There's the trip to Melbourne, Australia, the one to Mexico City, and also trips to face the Giants and Falcons in the Eastern time zone.

If that sounds like a lot of travel for one season, it is. That mileage will break an NFL record, set by the Chargers when they traveled more than 37,000 miles last season,according to Bill Speros of Bookies.com. That's despite having only eight road games in the 17-game schedule (that Mexico City game is a designated 49ers home game).

International travel can be tough on teams, and it can take a few weeks to feel back to normal. That's why most teams take a bye week after playing an international game. And the 49ers will get two international games. They will be the first team to play two international games in non-consecutive weeks. The Jaguars have played two games in London before. Last season the Vikings played two international games in a row, but both of those were in Europe with one in England and the other in Ireland. What the 49ers are being asked to do hasn't been done before.

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The good news for the 49ers is there is a long break between the two international trips.John Ourand of Puck reportedthe game against the Rams in Australia will be in Week 1, with a specific day to be determined. The Mexico City game, with an opponent that will be determined later, willbe in December.

But, that also means the 49ers have two international trips practically bookending their season.

49ers have a big challenge

The 49ers' leadership is happy to be making that second international trip.

"We are thrilled to return to Mexico and to play in front of one of the most passionate fan bases in the league," 49ers CEO Al Guido saidin a statement. "After two unforgettable experiences in 2005 and 2022 we are excited to reunite with the Mexico faithful."

The players might not be so excited to have 38,000 miles to fly during the season.

This will happen more often with theNFL's stated desireto get to 16 international games. There will be nine during the 2026 season. All that travel will make it tougher on the players, who already have a hard time getting through the expanded 17-game season healthy.

The 49ers know all about that. They had numerous star players miss games last season, though coach Kyle Shanahan did a marvelous job to get them to a 12-5 record. They go right from that strife to having to deal with the toughest travel schedule the NFL has ever seen, at least in terms of flight miles. They have to do that while trying to navigate one of the NFL's toughest divisions, with the Super Bowl champion Seahawks and NFC runner-up Rams.

The 49ers will get to see the world during the upcoming season. There will be a hidden cost attached.

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February 18, 2026

With second international game, the 49ers are already fighting uphill when it comes to a rough 2026 schedule

The San Francisco 49ers had injury issues that were out of their control this past season. They overcame those challenges...

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