The New Orleans Saints now know their opponent in Paris. The first NFL game in France will take place on Sunday, October 25 at the Stade de France and will pit the Saints against the Pittsburgh Steelers, as announced by the National Football League (NFL) on Wednesday. The kickoff time is also confirmed: 2:30 PM.
The announcement of this historic event was made in February, with the NFL confirming that New Orleans, due to its historical ties to France, would be one of the two teams participating in this regular season match. “The relationship between Louisiana and France has existed for centuries, and this match represents an important step in strengthening our cultural and economic ties,” said Saints owner Gayle Benson.
Similar to the NBA, the NFL has developed the concept of regular season games held internationally in countries like Great Britain, Germany, Spain, and Mexico over the past twenty years. There will be a total of nine such games in the 2026 season, including the one at the Stade de France. Director of NFL Europe and Asia-Pacific, Brett Gosper, stated that France is the third largest market for the NFL in Europe, after Germany and the UK.
“Paris is an international metropolis and we are excited to showcase the excitement of an NFL game to fans in France and around the world,” emphasized Gosper. Sports Minister Marina Ferrari also hailed the event as “a historic milestone and a strong symbol of French international sporting influence.”
The NFL regular season spans 18 weeks from early September to early January, followed by playoffs leading up to the prestigious Super Bowl a month later. The dates for the 2026 season will be announced on Thursday. Throughout their history, the Saints have only won one Super Bowl in February 2010, compared to the Steelers who have six championship rings and are one of the most legendary franchises in the NFL.
