Saints 'expected' to play first international game in new European country for 2026

Charlie Baduini

•
Saints 'expected' to play first international game in new European country for 2026 image

Stephen Lew-Imagn Images

According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, the New Orleans Saints are working to become the first NFL team to play a game in Paris, France.

"The New Orleans Saints are expected to play a game in Paris, as early as the 2026 regular season, per their team president Dennis Lauscha." Schefer wrote in a post on X.

"The NFL and stadium officials in Paris are working to finalize a deal to bring the Saints to Paris, with an announcement likely in the coming weeks."

Saints could potentially play regular season game in Paris

New Orleans would be the first team in the international series to play in France, which makes sense, given the city's ties to French culture.

The Saints hold international rights in France and Monaco, having been awarded the honor in 2023.

The NFL has been working to expand the game globally in recent years, scheduling games in both Europe and South America.

It began in 2007, when the league first took American football overseas to the United Kingdom. Since then, the NFL has gone on to play in Canada, Tokyo, Mexico, Germany, and Brazil in recent years.

The expansion isn't done yet, though, with the rumored French game coming in 2026, along with a trip to Australia also scheduled.

New Orleans has played in several international games over their team's history, including a 1978 exhibition game against the Philadelphia Eagles in Mexico City, a 1990 exhibition game in London, a 1993 exhibition game in Tokyo, and three more games in the United Kingdom in 2008, 2017, and 2022.

It remains to be seen who the Saints' opponent will be when the first NFL game is played in Paris.

More Saints news:

Contributing Writer