The NFL is already looking ahead. The league, as part of its continued push into global markets, is keeping at it, and this time, we have France hosting a 2026 regular-season matchup in Paris.

“The first NFL game in France will take place in Paris, at the Stade de France, on October 25, 2026. It will pit the New Orleans Saints against the Cleveland Browns,” RMC Sports mentioned in its latest report, translated by Google Translate.

The path to France didn’t happen by accident for the Saints. It was laid years earlier, in 2023, when the Louisiana-based franchise secured international marketing rights in the country. That decision made them the first NFL team to formally plant a flag in the French market, and it also marked their entry into the league’s Global Markets Program, setting the foundation for this next step abroad.

“New Orleans and France have enjoyed a unique cultural connection for centuries, and we are excited about working with the NFL and our partners in France to grow the game of American football,” Saints owner Gayle Benson mentioned that year.

It was back in January 2022 when the NFL launched the Global Markets Program, a long-term play designed to push the game beyond U.S. borders. Teams were given the green signal to build relationships overseas, connect with new fans, and grow their brands internationally. What’s unfolding now is simply the plan coming to life. That’s exactly what the Saints and Browns are doing.

Considering the Saints versus the Browns will be the first NFL game to happen in France, a commercial promoting it has already been filmed at the Stade de France featuring Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders. But it doesn’t end here.

On Saturday, Racing Club 92 unveiled an initiative where fans were given scarves and caps signed by Saints quarterback Tyler Shough during halftime of the game.

All that said, as far back as 2024, there was already chatter about New Orleans taking a regular-season game to France. That window never quite opened in 2025, but the idea didn’t disappear. It merely shifted across the timeline, and the 2026 regular season emerged as the more realistic landing spot. The contest will take place at the Stade de France, which has 80,000 seats. It is the largest stadium in the country and is the same venue that hosted the closing ceremony of the 2024 Paris Olympics.

While the league has already expanded into London, Germany, and Mexico, this marks a brand-new chapter. For French fans, this is not just another international game but a long-awaited moment that places France firmly on the NFL map.

Meanwhile, the Saints will return overseas for the first time since their 2022 trip to London, when they faced the Minnesota Vikings. This time, the Who Dat Nation will follow new head coach Kellen Moore’s lead. On the other side, the Browns will bring the Dawg Pound across the Atlantic, turning this clash into a statement game for both franchises and the league’s global push.

A big game for the Saints and Browns rivalry

The NFL’s expansion in Europe is big. After all, reports suggest that Europe is the NFL’s third-largest market with five million fans. But this moment did not come together overnight. Instead, it followed months of talks involving the NFL, Stade de France, the GL Events group, the French American Football Federation, and the Sports Directorate.

There are already signs of coordination between the two sides. The president of the French Federation of American Football previously made a trip to New Orleans to meet with team officials, and now, league representatives are expected to be in Paris next weekend as well.

Now, let us have a look at the teams.

Before the Saints and Browns take their rivalry to France, there is already plenty of history between them. Over the years, these two teams have met 20 times, and the Browns currently hold a 13–7 edge overall.

However, that edge does not tell the full story. The Dawg Pound has watched the Browns drop three straight games to the Saints, even though the teams have never crossed paths in the postseason. Their last meeting came on Nov. 17, 2024, when the Browns went on the road and left with a 35–14 loss against the Saints. Since then, both teams have struggled to find consistency.

The Saints wrapped up the 2025 season at 6–11, finishing fourth in the NFC South, while the Browns closed their year at 5–12, also placing fourth in the AFC North and missing the playoffs for a second straight season. Because of that, this matchup now feels like a chance for both sides to reset the tone.