Saints to play NFL’s first regular-season game in France

The New Orleans Saints are headed to Paris next year for the NFL’s first regular-season game in France. 

The NFL announced the historic game on Monday, just after confirming plans to host additional matchups in Madrid. The league will also head back to Mexico City for the first time since 2022.

League officials did not say who the Saints would play in Paris next season. Exact specifics, including New Orleans’ opponent and the date of the game, will be announced this spring. 

“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,” NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said in a statement. “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.”

The league estimates that it already has 14 million fans in France. The Saints hold international marketing rights for the region through the NFL’s Global Markets Program. 

“We are excited to be selected to play in the first regular season game to be held in France,” Saints owner Gayle 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 NFL has now confirmed eight international games for the upcoming season, including a return to Real Madrid’s Santiago Bernabeu Stadium through a multi-year partnership with the city. The league hosted its first game in Spain between the Miami Dolphins and Washington Commanders last November.

League officials did not specify who would play in next season’s matchup, which will be hosted by Real Madrid’s Bernabéu Stadium for a second consecutive year. 

“We are delighted to confirm that we will return to play a regular season game in 2026 in a multi-year partnership with the City of Madrid, Comunidad de Madrid and Real Madrid C.F.,” said NFL Spain Country Manager Rafa De Los Santos. “This multiyear commitment to playing games in Madrid — a world-class global cultural and sporting destination — underlines our commitment to the market.”

The NFL will also host international games in Munich, Rio de Janeiro, and Melbourne, Australia, this year. The schedule will also feature three games in London. The league will have nine international games next season and Goodell said it will eventually have 16 international games a year so each team plays one.

The NFL says it has played 62 regular-season games outside the U.S. so far, with London, Berlin, Munich, Frankfurt, Madrid, Dublin, Sao Paulo, Mexico City and Toronto as hosts.

“It’s the ambition we have to be a global sport,” Goodell said at his Super Bowl news conference Monday night. “But it’s also the demand we’re having. We’re hearing from cities that want to host these games and really want to get more American football.”

The NFL has played five games in Mexico City but hasn’t been back since 2022 while the stadium has undergone renovations for this summer’s World Cup.

“We’re heading back to Mexico City in December, which I think is wonderful for our fans in Mexico,” Goodell said. “They’re redoing the stadium for the World Cup. This will be a chance for us to get back there this December. We can’t wait for that either.”

This article is based in part on wire service reports.