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SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — The NFL will play its first regular-season game ever in France next season with the New Orleans Saints set to travel to Paris later this year.
The league on Monday announced the plans to play a game at the Stade de France next season in addition to a multiyear deal to keep playing regular-season games at Real Madrid’s Santiago Bernabeu Stadium.
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The NFL has already announced its first game in Australia next season with the Los Angeles Rams set to host that game, as well as games in Rio de Janeiro, Munich, and three in London. The league also could return to Mexico City next season.
The additions of Australia and France will mean NFL games will have been played in nine countries outside of the United States after next season.
The NFL says it has played 62 regular-season games outside the U.S. so far, with London, Berlin, Munich, Frankfurt, Madrid, Dublin, Sao Paulo, Mexico City and Toronto as hosts.
The Saints will play an opponent to be determined after the schedule is finalized later this year. The Saints have international marketing rights in France as part of the NFL’s Global Markets Program.
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“Bringing a regular season game to Paris in 2026 marks an exciting next step in the continued expansion of the league’s global footprint,” Commissioner Roger Goodell said in a statement. “Paris is one of the world’s greatest sporting and cultural cities with tremendous success in hosting global events that unite fans on the biggest stages. Playing our first‑ever regular season game at the impressive Stade de France, together with the New Orleans Saints, underlines our continued global growth ambitions and we look forward to bringing the NFL to our passionate fans in France.”
Saints owner Gayle Benson said she is excited to play in France, citing the “strong cultural connection between Louisiana and France.”
The Stade de France was built in 1998 when the country hosted the World Cup. It was also used for the 2024 Olympics and has hosted several major international sporting events.
The NFL says it has more than 14 million fans in France and launched a flag…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/nfl-play-first-regular-season-164045172.html
Author : JOSH DUBOW
Publish date : 2026-02-02 16:40:00
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