The New Orleans Saints are expected to play a 2026 NFL regular-season game in the beautiful city of Paris, France, as announced by Saints president Dennis Lauscha on Tuesday.
While the wheels are in motion on the deal, negotiations are still ongoing to find a venue for the first NFL game in France’s history.
During a speech on Tuesday, Lauscha hinted at the possibility of the game talking to the Greater New Orleans Quarterback Club. “You may hear in the next couple of weeks that we might be having a game internationally, and that game may be in Paris,” he said.
The NFL is expected to have a total of eight international games in 2026, including contests in Australia and possibly Madrid, Spain, where the NFL just played its first regular-season game last week.
With that being said, let’s take a look at what lies ahead for the Saints and which other NFL teams might be making the trip with them.
Why are the New Orleans Saints Playing in France?
In 2023, the NFL gave the Saints exclusive international marketing rights for France and Monaco through the Global Markets Program. This deal would give the Saints priority to host games there, just like the Jacksonville Jaguars have the rights in London, UK.
One of the more interesting nuances here is the similarity of Paris to New Orleans, which was founded as a French colony back in 1718.
Paris has been on the NFL’s radar for a while now, as French viewership has spiked massively for games over the last few years. In fact, over a million people tuned in for last season’s Super Bowl between the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles.
Even before the announcement is made officially, the Saints announced a partnership with the Paris Musketeers in the European League of Football (ELF). And yes, this is the same Musketeers team that has former Saints player/NFL head coach Jack Del Rio as their head coach. What a great thrill for these French players to get that kind of tutelage!
Which NFL Team Will the Saints Play in France?
While it’s highly unlikely, the Saints could play NFC South foes (Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, or Tampa Bay Buccaneers) in France.
In 2026, the Saints are scheduled to play out-of-division home games against the Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings, Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers, and TBD opponents from the AFC West and NFC West.
The Saints will likely finish in last place of the NFC South, meaning they will likely play the Las Vegas Raiders and the Arizona Cardinals – the current last-place teams in those competitive divisions.
It seems like the Packers and Steelers would be the frontrunners to play the Saints in France. How could the NFL not want one of the league’s most historic franchises taking the field for this momentous event?
Have the New Orleans Saints Played an International Game Before?
Yes, the Saints have actually played quite a few international games before. New Orleans had three exhibition games abroad: Mexico City (1978), London (1990), and Tokyo (1993).
In the regular season, the Saints have played in London three times: 2008, 2017, and 2022.
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