SAN FRANCISCO – The relationship between New Orleans and France deepened Monday with the announcement that the Saints will play the NFL's first ever regular-season game in Paris, France, this year.
The NFL Paris game — New Orleans' fourth regular-season international game following three prior games in London, England — will be played at the Stade de France. The Stade de France, the country's largest stadium, was built in 1998.
"We are excited to be selected to play in the first regular season game to take place in France," Saints Owner Gayle Benson said. "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."
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said on Monday, during his state-of-the NFL news conference in Santa Clara, Cal., that nine international games will be played in 2026. Super Bowl LX will be played Sunday at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara.
"It's changing hourly, but the one thing I do know is we're going to have nine games internationally, and we're excited by that," Goodell said. "We're in several new markets – Australia, we're moving from Rio to Brazil, Paris, we're going back to Munich, we're going to be in London.
"We're heading back to Mexico City in December, which, I think, is wonderful for our fans in Mexico. While they've been 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. It's the ambition that we have to be a global sport, but it's also the demand that we're having. We're hearing from cities all over the world that want to host these games, and that really want to get more American football. That's one of the things that we're really focused on."
Goodell said the NFL's goal is to play 16 international games per season, so that each team has a regular-season international game.
"I think that's an important mark for us to go for," he said. "I think we're well on our way, and hopefully with the desire that we have from our side but also the desire for people to have this in their communities. Some of the greatest cities in the world are asking, 'Can we do this?' And I think it's now about saying, no, we can't, we don't' have enough capacity or don't have enough inventory.
"And we're getting great reactions from our teams. They all want to play; our players loved it. One of the greatest things from last season was talking to our players and our coaches about how proud they were to be there and talk about the game, help globalize the game. They felt like ambassadors, I think, and they enjoyed the experience."
Louisiana has had a strong bond with France dating to the 17th century, with its roots as a colony until the Louisiana Purchase in 1803. Louisiana and New Orleans continue to share strong cultural and economic ties with France and Paris, the nation's capital and largest city.
The Saints further strengthened this cultural bond in 2023, when the NFL awarded the club international marketing rights in France as part of the league's Global Markets Program, making the Saints the first and only team to hold those rights in France.
In the summer of 2025, a contingent of Saints team officials, led by Benson, visited France to strengthen the connection between the team and fans abroad, participating in and sponsoring a series of community events.
The Saints have seen two victories abroad: a 2008 win against the San Diego Chargers and a 2017 victory over the Miami Dolphins, both in London. The team's most recent international game was a 2022 loss to the Minnesota Vikings, also in London.
The National Football League announced on Feb. 2, 2026 the first-ever regular season game to be played in Paris, France, with the New Orleans Saints named as a participating team in the historic contest. Check out some of the best photos from the Saints visits to France over the years.
New Orleans Saints linebacker Demario Davis embraced French culture with a guided tour of Paris, visiting iconic landmarks like the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre Museum, Notre-Dame Cathedral of Paris, and more on Friday, July 11, 2025.
New Orleans Saints wide receiver Chris Olave visit Paris, France during the offseason to take in the sights and culture of the historic city ahead of 2024 NFL season.
New Orleans Saints legend Drew Brees and his wife Brittany visit France as part of the Saints marketing efforts in the country.
New Orleans Saints owner Gayle Benson and linebacker Demario Davis joined fans at the Paris Musketeers game in Paris on Sunday, July 13, 2025.
New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara toured Paris Saint-Germain's Parc des Princes on Saturday, January 20, 2024.
New Orleans Saints wide receiver Chris Olave visit Paris, France during the offseason to take in the sights and culture of the historic city ahead of 2024 NFL season.
New Orleans Saints linebacker Demario Davis joined local youth flag football teams for a tour of Parc des Princes, home of the Paris St-Germain F.C., on Friday, July 11, 2025.
New Orleans Saints legend Drew Brees and his wife Brittany visit France as part of the Saints marketing efforts in the country.
New Orleans Saints wide receiver Chris Olave visit Paris, France during the offseason to take in the sights and culture of the historic city ahead of 2024 NFL season.
New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara toured Paris Saint-Germain's Parc des Princes on Saturday, January 20, 2024.
New Orleans Saints wide receiver Chris Olave visit Paris, France during the offseason to take in the sights and culture of the historic city ahead of 2024 NFL season.
New Orleans Saints wide receiver Chris Olave visit Paris, France during the offseason to take in the sights and culture of the historic city ahead of 2024 NFL season.
New Orleans Saints linebacker Demario Davis joined the Paris Musketeers at the U.S. Embassy in Paris for an event aimed at building connections with local and FFFA officials on Friday, July 11, 2025.
New Orleans Saints wide receiver Chris Olave visit Paris, France during the offseason to take in the sights and culture of the historic city ahead of 2024 NFL season.
New Orleans Saints owner Gayle Benson and linebacker Demario Davis joined fans at the Paris Musketeers game in Paris, France on Sunday, July 13, 2025.
New Orleans Saints linebacker Demario Davis embraced French culture with a guided tour of Paris, visiting iconic landmarks like the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre Museum, Notre-Dame Cathedral of Paris, and more on Friday, July 11, 2025.
New Orleans Saints linebacker Demario Davis embraced French culture with a guided tour of Paris, visiting iconic landmarks like the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre Museum, Notre-Dame Cathedral of Paris, and more on Friday, July 11, 2025.
New Orleans Saints wide receiver Chris Olave visit Paris, France during the offseason to take in the sights and culture of the historic city ahead of 2024 NFL season.
New Orleans Saints linebacker Demario Davis joined young athletes for a Play Football Experience and Flag Football clinic in Paris, France on Saturday, July 12, 2025.
New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara toured Paris Saint-Germain's Parc des Princes on Saturday, January 20, 2024.
New Orleans Saints wide receiver Chris Olave visit Paris, France during the offseason to take in the sights and culture of the historic city ahead of 2024 NFL season.
New Orleans Saints wide receiver Chris Olave visit Paris, France during the offseason to take in the sights and culture of the historic city ahead of 2024 NFL season.
New Orleans Saints wide receiver Chris Olave visit Paris, France during the offseason to take in the sights and culture of the historic city ahead of 2024 NFL season.
New Orleans Saints wide receiver Chris Olave visit Paris, France during the offseason to take in the sights and culture of the historic city ahead of 2024 NFL season.
New Orleans Saints linebacker Demario Davis joined local Parisian fans, including our 2025 International Fan of the Year, as well as Paris Musketeers representatives, and FFFA coaches for happy hour at New Orléans Saints Café in in Paris, France on Thursday, July 10, 2025.
New Orleans Saints linebacker Demario Davis joined local youth flag football teams for a tour of Parc des Princes, home of the Paris St-Germain F.C., on Friday, July 11, 2025.
New Orleans Saints linebacker Demario Davis embraced French culture with a guided tour of Paris, visiting iconic landmarks like the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre Museum, Notre-Dame Cathedral of Paris, and more on Friday, July 11, 2025.
New Orleans Saints linebacker Demario Davis joined local Parisian fans, including our 2025 International Fan of the Year, as well as Paris Musketeers representatives, and FFFA coaches for happy hour at New Orléans Saints Café in in Paris, France on Thursday, July 10, 2025.
New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara toured Paris Saint-Germain's Parc des Princes on Saturday, January 20, 2024.
New Orleans Saints legend Drew Brees and his wife Brittany visit France as part of the Saints marketing efforts in the country.
New Orleans Saints linebacker Demario Davis embraced French culture with a guided tour of Paris, visiting iconic landmarks like the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre Museum, Notre-Dame Cathedral of Paris, and more on Friday, July 11, 2025.
New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara toured Paris Saint-Germain's Parc des Princes on Saturday, January 20, 2024.
New Orleans Saints linebacker Demario Davis joined local Parisian fans, including our 2025 International Fan of the Year, as well as Paris Musketeers representatives, and FFFA coaches for happy hour at New Orléans Saints Café in in Paris, France on Thursday, July 10, 2025.
New Orleans Saints linebacker Demario Davis joined young athletes for a Play Football Experience and Flag Football clinic in Paris, France on Saturday, July 12, 2025.
New Orleans Saints linebacker Demario Davis joined young athletes for a Play Football Experience and Flag Football clinic in Paris, France on Saturday, July 12, 2025.
New Orleans Saints linebacker Demario Davis joined local youth flag football teams for a tour of Parc des Princes, home of the Paris St-Germain F.C., on Friday, July 11, 2025.
New Orleans Saints linebacker Demario Davis embraced French culture with a guided tour of Paris, visiting iconic landmarks like the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre Museum, Notre-Dame Cathedral of Paris, and more on Friday, July 11, 2025.
New Orleans Saints owner Gayle Benson and linebacker Demario Davis joined fans at the Paris Musketeers game in Paris, France on Sunday, July 13, 2025.
New Orleans Saints owner Gayle Benson and linebacker Demario Davis joined fans at the Paris Musketeers game in Paris, France on Sunday, July 13, 2025.
New Orleans Saints owner Gayle Benson and linebacker Demario Davis joined fans at the Paris Musketeers game in Paris on Sunday, July 13, 2025.
New Orleans Saints owner Gayle Benson and linebacker Demario Davis joined fans at the Paris Musketeers game in Paris on Sunday, July 13, 2025.
New Orleans Saints owner Gayle Benson and linebacker Demario Davis joined fans at the Paris Musketeers game in Paris, France on Sunday, July 13, 2025.
New Orleans Saints owner Gayle Benson and linebacker Demario Davis joined fans at the Paris Musketeers game in Paris, France on Sunday, July 13, 2025.
New Orleans Saints linebacker Demario Davis joined the Paris Musketeers at the U.S. Embassy in Paris for an event aimed at building connections with local and FFFA officials on Friday, July 11, 2025.
New Orleans Saints owner Gayle Benson and linebacker Demario Davis joined fans at the Paris Musketeers game in Paris, France on Sunday, July 13, 2025.
