NFL to make France debut during record 2026 schedule

The NFL will make its France debut as part of a record nine international games in 2026.

On the opening day of Super Bowl week, the NFL also announced multi-year partnerships to return to Mexico and Spain.

But there will be no immediate return to Ireland after Dublin staged its first game in September.

Paris' Stade de France will welcome the NFL next season, with the New Orleans Saints confirmed as one of the participating teams for that game. The date has yet to be confirmed.

Mexico has not staged an NFL game since 2022 because the Estadio Azteca was being renovated for this summer's World Cup, but the league has agreed to play there in each of the next three seasons.

Spain's first game was played at Bernabeu Stadium in November and the NFL has now made a "multi-year commitment" to play in Madrid.

France will become the fifth European nation to stage regular-season games, after the UK, Germany, Ireland and Spain.

Dublin's first game was seen as a success and although it will not have another game during the 2026 season, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell vowed that the NFL will return to Ireland at some point.

"We had a wonderful time," he said. "One of the things that stood out for me was it felt like the entire island was in support of it, and that game had more people come from the States than any [other international] game in our history.

"We will be back, I would guess in a few years. We've got to work with the officials on that, and that's our intention."

Goodell added: "Bringing a regular-season game to Paris in 2026 marks an exciting next step in the continued expansion of the league's global footprint."

The Saints are the only team to have marketing rights in France as part of the NFL's global markets programme.

"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," said Saints owner Gayle Benson.

International games will also be held in Brazil and Germany during the 2026 season, while London will host three and Australia will stage its first.