The New Orleans Saints will play in the NFL’s first regular-season game in Paris during the 2026 season, the league announced Monday.
The game will be played at the Stade de France, France’s national stadium.
“Bringing a regular-season game to Paris in 2026 marks an exciting next step in the continued expansion of the league’s global footprint,” commissioner Roger Goodell said in a statement. “Paris is one of the world’s greatest sporting and cultural cities with tremendous success in hosting global events that unite fans on the biggest stages. Playing our first‑ever regular-season game at the impressive Stade de France, together with the New Orleans Saints, underlines our continued global growth ambitions and we look forward to bringing the NFL to our passionate fans in France.”
The game has been several years in the making for the Saints, who were granted international marketing rights in France in 2023. Saints’ owner Gayle Benson, linebacker Demario Davis and team officials visited Paris last summer to grow the team’s brand. The Saints also have a partnership with the Paris Musketeers of the European League of Football.
“We are excited to be selected to play in the first regular-season game to take place in France,” Benson said in a statement. “This moment is special not only because of the strong cultural connection between Louisiana and France, but also because we will compete before a growing Saints fan base in Paris.”
The Saints’ opponent in the game will be announced when the NFL reveals its full schedule in the spring.
“Mrs. Benson has been working the French government and the US Ambassador to France for the past three years on the potential of the Saints playing a regular-season game in Paris,” Saints senior vice president Greg Bensel told ESPN. “While the announcement today confirms that we will be playing a regular-season game in Paris at Stade de France, we have not been informed of a date nor opponent at this time.”
This year for its international slate, the NFL is also set to play one game in Melbourne, Rio de Janeiro, Munich and Madrid and three games in London.
