Paris Musketeers team sees NFL game as a chance to boost American football in France

Paris Musketeers, France's first fully professional American football team, sees Sunday's NFL game between the New Orleans Saints and Pittsburgh Steelers as a chance to boost interest in the sport among French youngsters. Hugo Tekedam, a wide receiver for the Musketeers, hopes the game will inspire French children to take up the sport. Though American football is not widely popular in France, the Musketeers aim to change that perception.

The NFL game could help raise awareness of the sport and showcase the Musketeers, who were founded in 2022. American football barely registers on France's sports radar, which is dominated by soccer and other sports like rugby, basketball, cycling and tennis. The Musketeers play in the European Football Alliance, which recently completed its inaugural season.

The French federation of American football has reported growth in recent years, but its number of clubs remains in the hundreds. In contrast, France has an estimated 12,000 amateur soccer clubs. Introducing the sport at a younger age, even through flag football, will lead to more U.S. college prospects, according to John Booker, the Musketeers' general manager. Booker, a former offensive lineman, believes that getting kids playing the sport earlier will give them more opportunities to play at the collegiate level.

Tekedam, who had eight touchdown receptions last season, started playing American football at age 12 but faced limited infrastructure and coaching opportunities. He later enrolled at a prep school in Florida in pursuit of a U.S. college scholarship. The Musketeers, coached by former NFL coach Jack Del Rio for the past two seasons, are adding a new team, the London Guard, for the 2027 season.

Each team can have a limited number of Americans, and imported players receive housing, expenses, and a monthly stipend. The French players may lack experience, but they make up for it with enthusiasm, according to Booker.