NFL in Europe: from London to Paris, a history of international games

Wembley in 2007, then Munich, Frankfurt, Berlin, Dublin, Madrid and finally the Stade de France in 2026: how the NFL built its European presence, and why a return to Paris in 2027 looks so likely.

Watching the NFL take over the Stade de France on 25 October 2026 can feel like a one-off, yet it is really the latest step in more than thirty years of expansion beyond the United States. From the early European experiments of the 1990s to London weekends that became an annual fixture, and then a growing list of host cities, the league has been drawing a world map one game at a time. This page walks through that history, shows where Paris fits, and explains why a return in 2027 is widely expected. This website is independent and has no affiliation with the NFL.

NFL outside the United States: the early years, 1986 to 2005

Before regular-season games travelled, preseason ones did. The American Bowl, a series of exhibition games played between 1986 and 2005, took the NFL to London, Berlin, Barcelona, Dublin and other cities. Paris was never on that list, which is why the 2026 game is the first regular-season NFL game ever played in France.

At the same time, the league tried to build its own European competition. The World League, launched in 1991 with ten teams including three in Europe, became NFL Europe. The project was shut down by the NFL on 29 June 2007, after a final World Bowl on 23 June 2007 in Frankfurt, where the Hamburg Sea Devils beat the Frankfurt Galaxy 37-28. As far as we know, no Paris team ever took part.

NFL in Mexico City, 2005: the first game abroad

The first regular-season NFL game played outside the United States took place at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City on 2 October 2005. The Cardinals beat the 49ers 31-14 in front of 103,467 spectators, a record crowd at the time. It proved that a foreign audience could fill a huge stadium for a game that counts.

NFL in London: from Wembley 2007 to Tottenham 2019

The London series began at Wembley on 28 October 2007, when the Giants beat the Dolphins 13-10. It gradually became a staple of the calendar. Since 6 October 2019 (Raiders 24-21 Bears), the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium has hosted the NFL too, which allows several games each autumn.

The Jacksonville Jaguars have made London a second home: they have played there every year since 2013. In 2026 the British capital hosts four dates: Colts–Commanders (4 October) and Eagles–Jaguars (11 October) at Tottenham, then Texans–Jaguars at Wembley (18 October). London remains the benchmark for what a loyal market can become.

The NFL in Germany, Brazil, Ireland and Spain

The league then piled up a series of firsts. Here is a country-by-country summary of the landmarks.

NFL in Germany: Munich, Frankfurt, Berlin

Germany became the second great European hub. After Munich in 2022, Frankfurt staged two games in 2023 (Chiefs 21-14 Dolphins on 5 November, Colts 10-6 Patriots on 12 November), and Munich returned on 10 November 2024 for Panthers 20-17 Giants. Berlin, at the Olympiastadion, had its first game on 9 November 2025 (Colts–Falcons). The NFL is back in Munich in 2026 and 2028.

NFL in São Paulo, Dublin and Madrid: the map keeps growing

In 2025 the league scheduled seven games in five countries: São Paulo (Chargers–Chiefs, 5 September), Dublin (28 September), three games in London in October, Berlin (9 November) and Madrid (16 November). Multi-year agreements exist for Madrid and Mexico, as well as for Germany, which gives organisers valuable visibility.

The Global Markets programme: the NFL in France through the Saints

In 2022 the NFL launched its Global Markets programme. The idea: give clubs marketing rights in specific foreign countries for at least five years. The 2023 announcements gave Ireland to the Steelers, Germany to the Falcons and France to the New Orleans Saints, the first club to hold that market.

Looking back, the logic is easy to follow: the Steelers played in Dublin in 2025, the Falcons played in Berlin in 2025 and in Madrid in 2026, and the Saints, designated as the home team, host the Steelers in Paris. The Saints also have a partnership with the Paris Musketeers, the city's American football franchise. That link between an NFL club and a market goes a long way towards explaining the choice of fixtures.

NFL 2026: a record nine international games, including Paris

The 2026 season sets a record with nine games in seven countries:

• Melbourne, MCG, 10 September: 49ers–Rams
• Rio de Janeiro, Maracanã, 27 September: Ravens–Cowboys
• London, Tottenham, 4 October: Colts–Commanders, and 11 October: Eagles–Jaguars
• London, Wembley, 18 October: Texans–Jaguars
• Paris, Stade de France, 25 October: Steelers–Saints
• Madrid, Bernabéu, 8 November: Bengals–Falcons
• Munich, 15 November: Patriots–Lions
• Mexico City, Estadio Banorte, 22 November: Vikings–49ers

The Paris game is played on a Sunday, kicking off at 14:30 Paris time (9:30 a.m. ET), and is shown free-to-air by France Télévisions. There is no game in Berlin this year. For everything about the match, see our page on NFL Paris 2026: Steelers vs Saints.

NFL in Europe: games near Paris

If you want to extend the experience after 25 October, several European dates are within reach from Paris. London remains the classic destination, with its regular-season games at Tottenham and Wembley. In Madrid, the Bernabéu hosts Bengals–Falcons on 8 November 2026. In Munich, the Bayern stadium (Allianz Arena) hosts Patriots–Lions on 15 November 2026. Both dates fall shortly after Paris and could form a small circuit for dedicated fans.

Tickets for each game go through the official ticketing of that specific match: always check the conditions on the league or team website, and remember never to pay an unknown seller by bank transfer or rely on a simple screenshot of a ticket.

Why an NFL return to Paris in 2027 is expected

In late May 2026, at the Orlando meeting, NFL owners approved up to 10 international games per season, up from 8, starting in 2027. Roger Goodell has set a long-term goal of 16 international games. In other words, the number of slots is rising just as the league is working to anchor its priority markets.

Reasons to hope for a second NFL game in Paris

Several factors point to a comeback: the French market is entrusted to the Saints under Global Markets, enthusiasm around the first game at Saint-Denis is real, and Paris looks like a natural candidate for one of the new slots. In our view an NFL return to Paris in 2027 is therefore very likely, though nothing is confirmed.

NFL return to Paris: what we know and what we do not

To be clear: no 2027 host city has been announced, and no game in Paris in 2027 is official. Unlike Madrid, Mexico or Germany, there is, as far as we know, no multi-year agreement with Paris. The NFL schedule is usually published in the spring, which is when the fixtures will become known. To be told as soon as there is an official announcement, leave your email address in the alert form at the bottom of the page, and see our pages on the NFL return to Paris in 2027 and on NFL Paris tickets.

NFL in Europe and Paris: more guides

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