NFL set to bring its first American football matchup to France.

France is set to welcome its first professional NFL American football matchup, with the New Orleans Saints scheduled to open the 2026/27 season in Paris.

After expanding into Britain, Germany, Ireland, and Spain, the National Football League — the premier domestic sports league in the United States — is now adding France to its growing European footprint as part of its efforts to broaden its international fan base.

The Saints will take the field in Paris for the first regular-season game of 2026, marking the NFL’s debut on French soil. The contest will be held at the Stade de France, the nation’s largest stadium, which seats 81,000 spectators.

In a statement, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell praised the host city, noting that Paris is one of the world’s leading sporting and cultural capitals with a strong track record of staging major international events that bring fans together.

Saints owner Gayle Benson echoed that enthusiasm, saying the team is honored to participate in France’s first regular-season NFL game. She highlighted the deep cultural ties between Louisiana and France and pointed to the growing Saints fan base in Paris as part of what makes the occasion meaningful.

Even U.S. Ambassador to France Charles Kushner weighed in, making a lighthearted reference to Emmanuel Macron’s widely discussed “for sure” remark from his speech at Davos last month.

Expanding its global footprint

The league’s inaugural appearance in France is another step in the NFL’s broader strategy to grow its international presence and marketing strength, particularly as it seeks to rival the global reach of the National Basketball Association (NBA).

According to the NFL, it has more than 14 million fans in France. In 2023, the league introduced a flag football initiative in the country that already engages more than 8,000 boys and girls. Flag football — a non-contact version of the sport — is also expected to gain further global attention when it debuts at the Los Angeles Olympics in 2030.

The NFL has also confirmed plans to continue staging regular-season games at Real Madrid’s Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, along with a matchup scheduled for Mexico City in December.

Speaking at a news conference ahead of this weekend’s Super Bowl — the championship game of the NFL season — Goodell emphasized the league’s global ambitions. He said becoming an international sport is both a goal and a response to demand, noting that cities around the world are expressing strong interest in hosting games and expanding access to American football.

The league has already revealed that the Los Angeles Rams will host its first game in Australia next season. Additional games are planned for Rio de Janeiro, Munich, and three in London.

Altogether, the NFL will stage nine international games next season. Goodell added that the long-term objective is to reach 16 international games annually, allowing every team to play one abroad.