New Orleans Saints

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The NFL has become an unstoppable force in Europe. What began on October 28, 2007, when the Miami Dolphins hosted the New York Giants at London’s Wembley Stadium as the first International Series game, has since exploded into one of the NFL’s biggest marketing campaigns.

The league’s presence in Europe has only grown stronger, showing no signs of slowing down. In fact, the NFL is taking its show global in 2026, hosting eight blockbuster international games.

On Monday, the league announced that the New Orleans Saints will serve as the designated home team for the first-ever NFL Paris Game.

The game will mark the Saints’ fourth regular season contest overseas following three prior appearances in London, England.

A Team Already With Strong Ties to Paris

The 2026 NFL Paris Game will take place at the Stade de France, the country’s largest stadium.

“We are excited to be selected to play in the first regular season game to take place in France,” said Saints Owner Gayle Benson. “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.”

Since 2023, the New Orleans Saints have held international marketing rights in France as part of the NFL’s Global Markets Program. So far, they are the first and only team to hold these rights in the country, giving them a unique connection ahead of the first-ever NFL Paris Game in 2026.

Through the NFL’s Global Markets Program, the Saints organization, led by Mrs. Benson, partners closely with Louisiana Economic Development (LED) to drive business growth, while also collaborating with city leaders to market and promote tourism in New Orleans.

“Bringing a regular season game to Paris in 2026 marks an exciting next step in the continued expansion of the league’s global footprint,” said NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell.

He added, “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.”

Strategic Partnership Between Saints and Paris Musketeers

According to saints.com, in the summer of 2025, a group of Saints officials, led by Mrs. Benson, traveled to France to strengthen the team’s connection with fans abroad, participating in and sponsoring a series of community events.

Ahead of the trip, the Saints formed a strategic partnership with the Paris Musketeers of the European League of Football (ELF) to unite fan bases, enhance cross-continental football experiences, and promote the growth of American football in Europe. The Saints contingent even attended a Musketeers game as part of the collaboration.

In November, Musketeers officials, coaches, and players visited New Orleans, attended a Saints practice, and were special guests of Mrs. Benson during the team’s November 23 matchup against the Atlanta Falcons at the Caesars Superdome.

The Saints already announced that, as the 2026 NFL Paris Game is a league-led event, a limited number of tickets will be made available to eligible Saints season ticket holders through a lottery.

The full matchup, including the Saints’ opponent, date and kickoff time will be announced by the NFL at a future date.

Fabienne Lampe Fabienne Lampe is a German sports journalist, covering the NFL, College Football, NBA, and Formula 1 for Heavy Sports. Lampe has years of experience covering the NFL, especially the Atlanta Falcons as their sole German reporter. She has interviewed some of the biggest names in the NFL, including Atlanta Falcons running back Bijan Robinson. Lampe also hosts a Formula 1 podcast and works as a play-by-play announcer. More about Fabienne Lampe