We are less than 10 days away from the Super Bowl, and the excitement is already building. Fans are counting the hours for the New England Patriots and Seattle Seahawks showdown in Santa Clara. However, amid all the Super Bowl hype, the NFL has already mapped out a surprise that is set to thrill fans far beyond American borders, especially those waiting patiently in France.

According to a report from French outlet RMC Sport, the New Orleans Saints will face the Cleveland Browns in Paris on Oct. 25, 2026.

The outlet stated, “Après des mois de négociations, c’est enfin acté: le premier match de NFL en France aura lieu à Paris, au Stade de France, le 25 octobre 2026. Il opposera les New Orleans Saints aux Browns de Cleveland.”

In other words, after months of talks, the deal is finally done, and the NFL has locked in its first-ever regular-season game on French soil.

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 the Big Easy’s team under new head coach Kellen Moore. 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.

The game will be played at the Stade de France, located in Saint-Denis, just outside Paris. With a capacity of 80,698, it stands as the largest stadium in the country.

Because of that, this game feels bigger than a single Sunday, and it represents a major step for the NFL and a celebration for the French fans who have waited years to see the sport arrive on their home turf.

A big game for the Saints and Browns rivalry

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. Right now, 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.

More recently, 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.

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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.

Meanwhile, simply bringing this game to France already counts as a win for the NFL. According to RMC Sport, France stands as the league’s third-largest European market with nearly five million fans.

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.

RMC Sport also reported that NFL representatives will be in Paris around February 7 and 8 during Super Bowl week. That visit should help fine-tune the event, and we will get clarity in the coming days.