Dublin, London, Berlin, Madrid, Munich and even Frankfurt. These major European cities all have one thing in common: they have already hosted an NFL game. Paris will join this list at the end of the year since it is now official, an American football match will be organized at the Stade de France on October 25, 2026 according to consistent sources.
For Keldon, born in the United States but who has lived in France since he was four years old, seeing an NFL match in Paris is a real chance. “I have returned to the United States several times, but always during the summer holidays, when there are no matches. With my father, we watch NFL games together, and it would be an incredible opportunity to go to the stadium in Paris,” he said.
“I also love the NBA, and when the games came to Paris, we couldn’t find places to go,” he continued. Because yes, in recent years, NBA meetings have been organized in the French capital, at the Accor Arena. The limited number of places (around 15,000) had prevented many fans from going there, like Julien, another North American sports fan: “When there was the NBA Paris Game, I wanted to go but it was impossible. I hope this time it will be easier. »
“Hopefully it’s not too expensive”
Fabrice, a 52-year-old man who lives in Normandy, is a huge supporter of the New Orleans Saints, one of the two teams that will be in Paris in October. “I was like crazy when we won the Super Bowl in 2010. I’ve always had an attachment to this city, even though I’ve never been to the United States. Even in the NBA, I support [New Orleans] Pelicans. » Like a large part of NFL followers, Fabrice is also an NBA follower, and he tried his luck for the NBA Paris Games in 2024. “I quickly understood that it was not in my budget” he said.
“I never had the chance to go to the United States, so for the matches to come to France, it may be the only chance in my life to see a match at the stadium. Whether for the meetings in Madrid, Berlin, London or even the NBA in Paris, it was overpriced. But this time, to see my team at the Stade de France, I would be ready to go all out, hoping that it would not be too expensive,” he said.
Similar echo for Julien, 17, who wants to become a sports journalist specializing in North American sports. “My brother and I tried to go see the NBA games in Paris, but it was too expensive. Like there, for the NFL, it will be at the Stade de France, we hope that the places will be more affordable” he confided.
The capacity of the Stade de France is 80,000 seats. If some are reserved for guests, sponsors or even relatives of the players, the vast majority of seats should be for supporters. Keldon says he is “ready to pay a lot to be well placed. »
