The NFL’s push across the Atlantic took another step Monday. Schedule news is already reshaping the 2026 season. Next season, the Saints will play a major part in further entrenching the NFL’s presence in Europe.
New Orleans Saints to Host NFL’s First Regular-Season Game in Paris
The National Football League announced that the New Orleans Saints will participate in the first-ever regular-season game played in Paris, France, during the 2026 season. The game will take place at the Stade de France, the country’s largest stadium, in Saint-Denis.
Per the NFL: The game in France will take place at the Stade de France – the country’s national stadium. https://t.co/DgjtmxcSoI
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) February 2, 2026
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell called the game a milestone in the league’s global schedule.
“Bringing a regular season game to Paris in 2026 marks an exciting next step in the continued expansion of the league’s global footprint,” Goodell said. “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 2026 Paris game will be the Saints’ fourth regular-season contest overseas following appearances in London in 2008, 2017, and 2022. The matchup will count as one of nine home games on the Saints’ schedule.
Built in 1998, the Stade de France has hosted the FIFA World Cup, Rugby World Cup, UEFA Champions League finals, and other major events. The venue has also staged concerts by U2, Beyoncé, Jay-Z, AC/DC, Paul McCartney, and The Rolling Stones.
The Saints have had a footprint in France for years. In 2023, the team was awarded international marketing rights in France through the NFL’s Global Markets Program. The Saints were the first and only club to hold those rights. Since then, the Saints have partnered with the Paris Musketeers of the European League of Football and conducted multiple outreach visits to France.
The NFL said the game will be supported by French governmental and sporting organizations. It is expected that the league has more than 14 million fans in France. NFL Flag launched in the country in 2023 and now reaches more than 8,000 participants. All a part of the NFL’s plan to keep growing the game internationally.
The opponent, date, and kickoff time will be announced when the full 2026 schedule is released, but reports suggest the Browns will face the Saints this fall in Paris.
