CLEVELAND, Ohio — Traveling Browns fans might want to brush up on their french and become part of NFL history.
The NFL announced on Monday that the Saints are hosting the first-ever regular season game in Paris, and a french site, RMC Sports, reported that the Browns are the opponent for the game, which it says will be Oct. 25.
Furthermore, the site reported that Browns quarterback Shedeur Sanders has already filmed a commercial for the big event. He just so happened to be in Paris last week, and when he entered Todd Monken’s office on Friday to meet his new head coach for the first time, Browns GM Andrew Berry said “welcome back to the States.”
The Browns say they haven’t heard anything yet, and the NFL has yet to answer an email asking if the Browns are the opponent.
If it’s true, it will mark the second straight season the Browns have played an international game, after their 21-17 loss to the Vikings in London on Oct. 5.
The game will take place at Stade de France, which holds 80,000 fans and is the largest stadium in the country. If it’s the Browns vs. Saints, it could feature a matchup of two second-year quarterbacks from the 2025 draft in Sanders, a fifth-rounder, and the Saints’ Tyler Shough, a second-rounder.
The Saints have international marketing rights in France as part of the NFL’s Global Markets Program, an initiative that grants global marketing rights to clubs in markets outside of the U.S. to build brand awareness and fandom. All 32 NFL teams participate in the program with rights across 21 markets.
The NFL has a growing presence in France with over 14 million fans. Flag football, the non-contact format of the game, will make its debut as an Olympic sport in Los Angeles 2028 (LA28). NFL Flag – the league’s official youth flag football program – launched in France in 2023 in partnership with the FFFA and already reaches over 8,000 boys and girls, with plans to grow participation in the years ahead.
“Bringing a regular season game to Paris in 2026 marks an exciting next step in the continued expansion of the league’s global footprint,” NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said in a release. “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 notes the team’s strong following Paris, and the burgeoning NFL fan base there.
“We are excited to be selected to play in the first regular season game to be held in France,” Benson said. “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. I am grateful to the NFL, Commissioner Roger Goodell and the French Government, especially Laurent Bili, Ambassador of France to the United States, Samuel Ducroquet, Ambassador of France to Sport, for helping make this historic event possible.”
The NFL has confirmed the following 2026 regular season international games to date:
· One game in Melbourne, Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, featuring the Los Angeles Rams as one of the participating teams
· One game in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil at the Maracanã Stadium
· One game in Munich, Germany at FC Bayern Munich Arena
· Three games in London, U.K.
· One game in Madrid, Spain at the Bernabéu Stadium – home to Real Madrid C.F.
· One game in Paris, France, at the Stade de France Stadium, featuring the New Orleans Saints as one of the participating teams
Fans can sign up to receive information on all NFL 2026 International Games at the following:
· 2026 NFL Melbourne game, visit: nfl.com/Melbourne
· 2026 NFL Rio game, visit: nfl.com/Rio
· 2026 NFL Munich game, visit: nfl.com/Munich
· 2026 NFL Madrid game, visit: nfl.com/Madrid
· 2026 NFL Paris game, visit: nfl.com/Paris
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