NFL: Paris to stage its first regular season game this year

The National Football League (NFL) announced on Monday that it will stage its first-ever regular season game in Paris this year, with the New Orleans Saints confirmed as one of the participating teams.

The match will be held at the Stade de France, France’s largest stadium, which hosted track and field events during the 2024 Olympics. The venue has also been the site of the 1998 FIFA World Cup final, as well as the 2007 and 2023 Rugby World Cup finals.

"Paris is one of the world’s greatest sporting and cultural cities with tremendous success in hosting global events," NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said in a statement.

The NFL has also secured a multi-year deal to return to Real Madrid’s Santiago Bernabéu Stadium and will stage a game in Melbourne, Australia this year featuring the Los Angeles Rams.

Since 2007, regular season matches have been held in London, with Germany, Brazil, Ireland, and Mexico also hosting games in the last four years as part of the league’s effort to expand its global footprint. Last year, the NFL staged a record seven international matches.

"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," Saints owner Gayle Benson said. -Reporting by Chiranjit Ojha in Bengaluru, editing by Ed Osmond/Reuters