The National Football League has today, Wednesday, officially designated the New Orleans Saints and Pittsburgh Steelers as combatants for the league's inaugural regular-season match in France. This encounter, set for October 25 at Stade de France in Paris, expands the NFL's international series which now encompasses nine games beyond North American borders this season.
The decision for the Steelers, a team with a record of six Super Bowl victories, arrived after earlier reports indicated the Cleveland Browns would fill the role as the Saints' opponent. News outlets, beginning yesterday, detailed the Steelers' selection for the Week 7 fixture. The league commissioner, Roger Goodell, had previously affirmed the Saints' involvement during a 'state-of-the-league' address before Super Bowl LX in San Francisco.
The Saints are also proud partner with the NFL's flag football initiatives in France, which have grown rapidly and now engage thousands of young athletes.
This event marks the Steelers' second successive overseas outing, following a game in Dublin, Ireland, last season. The Stade de France, a national venue capable of hosting over 80,000 spectators, will host the match. Local authorities and sports organizations, including the French Department of Sports, Youth and Community Life and the Fédération Française de Football Américain (FFFA), support the event. Louisiana and New Orleans, according to reports, retain profound cultural and economic connections with France. The game is slated for a 9:30 a.m. (ET) broadcast on the NFL Network.
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This Paris fixture contributes to the NFL's broader global reach, which includes:
Three games scheduled for London.
Single games in Madrid, Melbourne, Germany, Rio de Janeiro, and Mexico City.
The New Orleans Saints hold exclusive marketing rights for the French market as part of the NFL's Global Markets Program. They have actively engaged in various initiatives within France. Marina Ferrari, France's Minister of Sports, Youth and Community Life, acknowledged the event's significance:
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L'accueil du premier match de saison régulière de la National Football League en France marque une étape historique et un symbole fort du rayonnement sportif international de notre pays.
— L'Équipe
Priority presale access for a ticket lottery is available to Saints season ticket holders. Official travel packages for the event have been made accessible through ' On Location '. The Collective Bargaining Agreement between the NFL and its Players Association permits up to ten international games annually, with the league reportedly aspiring to increase this figure to sixteen.
