NFL plays first Paris game amid city protests

Summarised from 3 outlets · 4 reports · Updated 25 Oct, 13:20 · Archive

The Pittsburgh Steelers play the New Orleans Saints in Paris on Sunday, the NFL's first regular-season game in France.

The Pittsburgh Steelers will play the New Orleans Saints on Sunday at Stade de France in Paris, marking the NFL's first regular-season game in France. The Steelers enter the match with a 4-2 record and are led by quarterback Aaron Rodgers, while the Saints are 2-4 following their win over the New York Giants.

Ahead of the game, the NFL closed its NFL House in Paris on Saturday morning and shut its pop-up shop the previous day, citing 'potential accessibility issues'. This came as Paris faced street protests with heavy police presence and boarded storefronts. The U.S. State Department issued a security alert this week that cautioned 'Americans in Paris for the NFL game' to 'exercise caution and be aware of their surroundings' because of the protests. Major museums including the Louvre and Orsay Museum were also closed on Saturday.

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said preparations were made in consultation with U.S. and French authorities. Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers told media on Friday that if the game was unsafe, 'I'm sure we wouldn't be here'. The game is part of a record nine international matches in the 2026 NFL season, with Paris joining Melbourne and Rio de Janeiro as new territories for the league's expansion.

How it is being reported

• NFL overcomes civil unrest, Trump concerns and calls to postpone as Steelers and Saints kick off in ParisThe NFL kicked off at Stade de France despite Paris protests and calls from Trump to postpone the Pittsburgh Steelers and New Orleans Saints game.Fox News · 25 Oct, 13:33
• NFL Paris LIVE! Steelers face Saints at Stade de FranceSky Sports · 25 Oct, 13:00
• Steelers and Saints play in NFL’s first Paris game—Here’s how to watch for freeThe NFL's international expansion lands in the City of Light.New York Post · 25 Oct, 09:30
• NFL House in Paris closes ahead of Saints-Steelers game as unrest in city turns into chaosThe NFL closed its “NFL House” in Paris on Saturday as the city braced for street protests with a heavy police presence and storefronts boarded up.New York Post · 24 Oct, 20:16

In this story: Pittsburgh Steelers · New Orleans Saints · Paris · Stade de France · Aaron Rodgers · NFL · France · U.S. State Department

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem