The New Orleans Saints, fittingly, will be the team to kick off the NFL's debut in Paris.
The NFL is constantly looking at ways to expand their global footprint. Games have been played in London, Germany, Brazil, Ireland, and more, and another European country is scheduled to be added to that slate in 2026. It doesn’t really feel like the teams exactly belong there, with no connection to the city or fans, though that’s all growing. But for their next expansion, the team they selected is a perfect fit. The NFL announced that they’ll play the league’s first-ever game in Paris in 2026, and the New Orleans Saints will be one of the teams in the contest.
Unlike the randomness of, say, the Los Angeles Chargers and Kansas City Chiefs in Brazil, it makes perfect sense to have the team out of New Orleans with such an intricate French connection be the team to debut their Paris kickoff. The Fleur-De-Lis on the helmets are one thing, but the way that France is intertwined in the city makes this an exciting expansion opportunity, and a fitting one for once.
Here is the full story from Saints Roundtable writer Keith Crear III on why this move may be one of the best by the NFL in recent history.
The game will be played in France’s national stadium, the Stade de France, which has hosted multiple global events from World Cups to the Olympics. New Orleans’ opponent will be announced in the full schedule reveal this spring. In addition to Paris, the international slate will include games in Melbourne, Australia, Rio de Janeiro, Munich, Madrid, Spain, and London, which will host three contests.