The Pittsburgh Steelers are reportedly packing their bags for Paris, set to face the New Orleans Saints in what would be the NFL’s first regular-season game in France, according to sources. The Week 7 matchup is expected to be played at the Stade de France on Oct. 25, with a U.S.-morning kickoff time reported to fit neatly into television windows. The news surfaced amid a steady drip of schedule leaks in the days leading up to the league’s official reveal.
As reported by The New York Times, The Athletic’s Mike DeFabo, citing league sources, identified Pittsburgh as the visiting team and New Orleans as the designated home club for the Paris contest. Multiple outlets echoed the report after a late-night leak on Tuesday.
NFL to make it official during schedule week
The NFL plans to unveil the full 2026 schedule on Thursday, May 14, with select marquee games and international dates rolling out in advance through the league and its broadcast partners, according to the league. The schedule release hub on NFL.com outlines the announcement timetable and coverage plans.
Steelers bring overseas experience
Pittsburgh will not be guessing its way through an overseas road trip. The Steelers traveled to Dublin last season and beat the Minnesota Vikings in the NFL’s first regular-season game in Ireland. The organization turned that journey into a full week of fan events, community outreach and logistical dry runs that could translate directly to the Paris operation. Steelers.com breaks down the club’s Ireland visit and behind-the-scenes planning.
What it means for Saints fans
The Saints were previously announced as the designated host franchise when the NFL first confirmed Paris as a 2026 stop, a decision the league described as both a nod to cultural ties and an investment in a growth market for the sport. As the official "home" team, the Saints keep hosting duties for the matchup even though the game will be played at the Stade de France. NFL.com covered the original announcement in February.
Paris joins a record international slate
The Paris game is one of several overseas contests on the 2026 slate, including a Madrid matchup between the Cincinnati Bengals and Atlanta Falcons on Nov. 8, as the league stages a record number of international regular-season games next season. The Associated Press reported the Madrid assignment along with the broader international schedule, and AP has the Madrid details.
The full schedule release on Thursday is expected to lock in kickoff times, travel windows and ticketing plans. For now, the report firmly plants Paris as the next stop in the NFL’s overseas expansion and gives fans in both Pittsburgh and New Orleans a road-trip-worthy international weekend to circle on the calendar.
