French Football Federation signs 30-year deal to return to Stade de France
The French Football Federation has officially agreed a 30-year deal to bring the national team back to the Stade de France. The FFF confirmed the long-term partnership with the stadium's new concession holder, GL Events, on Friday, ending a period of over a year where Les Bleus have been absent from their traditional home.
The agreement, which runs until 2055, is structured in two distinct phases. The first phase, from now until 2030, will see the Stade de France host the majority of the French national team's matches, schedule permitting, as well as the Coupe de France final. According to the federation's statement, the team will make its return to the venue in a match against Italy this coming October.
The second phase will commence in January 2031, following the completion of planned renovation works. From that point until the contract's conclusion, the FFF commits to staging the French national team's six most significant fixtures every two seasons at the stadium, alongside the annual Coupe de France final. This long-term security provides a stable base for the federation after a period of uncertainty regarding its primary venue.
The move marks a definitive end to the team's temporary residency at the Parc des Princes. Since March 23, 2025, when France defeated Croatia on penalties in a Nations League quarter-final, Didier Deschamps's side has not played at the Stade de France. This absence forced them to play three subsequent World Cup qualifying matches at Paris Saint-Germain's home ground.
The return to the 80,000-seat Stade de France in Saint-Denis is seen as a return to normality for the national setup. The venue has been the team's spiritual home since its opening in 1998, hosting the nation's greatest triumph when they won the World Cup that same year. Securing a three-decade agreement ensures it will remain the backdrop for French football's biggest occasions for the foreseeable future.
For GL Events, securing the FFF as a cornerstone tenant is a major coup following its takeover of the stadium's operations. The deal guarantees a steady stream of high-profile events, cementing the stadium's status as the nation's premier sporting arena. The federation's commitment provides a solid financial foundation for the concession holder's long-term management plan.
The immediate implication is a cleared calendar and a confirmed home for Les Bleus as they build towards the 2026 World Cup and beyond. Fans can now expect the national team's most prestigious fixtures, particularly against major European rivals, to be reliably staged at the familiar ground in the northern suburbs of Paris, reinstating the iconic atmosphere associated with the team's biggest nights.
