Saints Eye Paris NFL Game as Monaco Ties Open Door to European Growth

The NFL is widening its footprint beyond North America, with Paris emerging as a potential regular-season host. At the same time, the New Orleans Saints are positioning themselves at the center of France's football ambitions, while exploring a fruitful Monaco connection that could boost the league's profile in Europe.

Saints cementing a path into the French market

Since the NFL launched its global markets program in 2022, teams can market overseas, and the Saints have taken a unique route by targeting France. The club views France as a natural extension of New Orleans ties, given historical and cultural links between the two regions. As the league’s sole team with French marketing rights, the Saints are building partnerships and community programs from the ground up, starting with local football initiatives in Paris.

Part of this effort included engaging with the Paris Musketeers, a team in Europe’s football ecosystem, and launching joint ventures with them in 2023. A Saints delegation later participated in events in Paris, including a Musketeers game and a flag football clinic for more than 200 young players, delivered by Saints youth football staff in collaboration with the Musketeers.

Monaco: a high-profile gateway to Europe

The Saints’ French push opened doors to Monaco through a mix of shared friends and sport-loving leadership. Prince Albert II, a long-time Olympian and a known enthusiast of American sports, has shown genuine interest in the club’s work with New Orleans. He invited Saints executives to Monaco’s Red Cross gala, where discussions about a potential off-season mini-camp took shape.

Officials say the idea is to host a short, high-profile training camp at Monaco’s venues, possibly at AS Monaco’s football stadium, giving players a chance to train in a luxury setting while deepening ties with the Monegasque sports community.

"There’s real warmth and openness to partnering in Monaco, and the prince’s support has been meaningful," said a Saints executive. The team also noted progress in building relationships with local leaders and sports figures to explore more collaborations in the months ahead.

What could come next for Paris and beyond

The NFL has already conducted site visits to the Stade de France as it weighs future international games. If Paris lands a game in 2026 or 2027, the Saints say they are ready to plan a substantial lead-in program to maximize fan engagement and learning opportunities in France.

Beyond a Paris game, the Saints are working with the French Federation of American Football to lay groundwork for wider growth. Plans include flag football programs in several cities, a structured league, and stronger school-level participation before any Paris game materializes. The Saints also acknowledge the NBA’s popularity in France and the value of cross-sport visibility as part of their broader marketing strategy.

Brett Gosper, the NFL’s head of Europe & Asia-Pacific, outlined the league’s prioritization of 13 markets and its intent to invest in regions with strong fanbases and partners. The aim is to make international games a sustained, multi-year effort rather than one-off events, with a careful approach to local involvement as expansion continues.

Paris or Dublin? The road ahead

Holding a training camp in Monaco could raise the profile of American football in France ahead of a potential Paris game. The NFL has signaled continued interest in Europe, with visits and talks ongoing with the French Federation of American Football and school programs to grow the sport at the grassroots level. While Paris remains a focus, other European hubs are also in the mix as the league charts a multi-market path forward.

In conversations with INLIBER Sport, Saints officials emphasized readiness: if a 2026 or 2027 game is approved, they intend to be fully prepared with a substantial pre-event footprint in France to maximize impact and fan engagement.

The league’s Europe & Asia-Pacific leadership stressed that future international games will require long-term commitments and local partnerships, ensuring that new markets grow in tandem with established markets rather than as isolated events.

Key Takeaways

• Paris could host a regular-season NFL game as part of the league’s European expansion plan.
• The New Orleans Saints are actively building France-focused partnerships and community programs to support a future Paris game.
• A Monaco training camp is being considered to raise France’s profile while deepening ties with regional sports leaders.
• Site visits to Stade de France and discussions with French football authorities indicate serious intent to broaden European engagement.

Expert comment

A sports market analyst notes that sustained international growth requires multi-year commitments and visible local engagement, not one-off events. The Saints’ approach in France and Monaco signals a deliberate, long-term strategy to cultivate fans, talent, and partnerships.

Summary

The NFL is actively testing the European market, with Paris presenting a prime opportunity for a regular-season game. The New Orleans Saints are at the forefront of this push, leveraging historical ties to France and exploring a Monaco training camp to deepen engagement. If Paris secures a game in the near future, expect a concerted effort in France to build grassroots programs, league structures, and ongoing collaboration with local partners. The league’s leadership insists that any expansion will be gradual, with multi-year plans and sustained presence in the communities it enters.

Key insight: The NFL’s European strategy centers on long-term partnerships and multi-market presence, using Paris and Monaco as catalysts for broader growth. BBC Sport