NFL overcomes civil unrest, Trump concerns and calls to postpone as Steelers and Saints kick off in Paris
Pittsburgh Steelers face New Orleans Saints in Paris amid a tense backdrop
SUNDAY, OCT. 28, 2026 – The first National Football League (NFL) regular‑season game to be played outside the United States opened in Paris’s Stade de France, just nine miles north of the Eiffel Tower. The contest, scheduled for 3:30 p.m. Paris time (9:30 a.m. Eastern), began at an almost full house as the Steelers and Saints took the field in a city still reeling from a Saturday of protests and street clashes.
A city on edge
Earlier that week, an estimated 110,000 demonstrators—students, workers, farmers, socialists, communists, pro‑Palestine activists, anarchists and anti‑fascist groups—massed along Paris streets, clashing with police. The unrest led to the closure of three official fan events that the NFL had planned for Saturday, as well as the rescheduling of a Paris Saint‑Germain match to Monday. Across the country, nearly 1,000 people were arrested, and police seized weapons from protestors.
Despite the volatile atmosphere, the NFL went ahead with its Paris game. “We’ve got confidence in the plans both from an ops and security standpoint,” said Peter O’Reilly, the league’s executive vice‑president for Club Business and International, during a briefing last week. He added that the league was “vigilant” about the situation in France but remained “confident” that the game would proceed.
U.S. diplomatic assurances
Commissioner Roger Goodell told reporters that the NFL had been in contact not only with the U.S. Department of State but also with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Rubio confirmed to the league that both the U.S. Embassy and French authorities believed the game would “be fine.” Goodell said he had received reassurances from both sides and that the NFL was prepared to act if the situation changed.
The league’s decision to play, however, was not without controversy. President Donald Trump publicly expressed worry about the game. “I would’ve said the NFL could’ve probably postponed that match,” he admitted, noting that he had concerns about holding the event in a city still experiencing unrest.
Fan sentiment and player reactions
The fan‑event cancellations and the broader debate over international games sparked criticism from players’ families and even the players themselves. A wife of a player who had been asked about the viability of playing in Paris expressed doubts about the decision. “We’re not sure how it makes sense to play there,” she said, citing safety and logistical concerns.
Wide receiver DK Metcalf of the Steelers, interviewed in Paris before kickoff, was asked if he would prefer to play his next international game elsewhere. “No, sir,” he replied. “Because I really don’t like traveling outside the U.S. to play football.”
The game
The match itself, played in a stadium that was near capacity, proceeded without incident. Security forces were on a heightened alert, a measure reportedly unprecedented for a regular‑season NFL game. While there were no confirmed threats to the kickoff, officials had not yet received any official statements from the French police on potential security risks.
The Steelers edged the Saints 22–19 in a tightly contested contest that highlighted the league’s growing ambition to reach global audiences. The game’s successful execution, despite the surrounding tensions, has been hailed by some as a testament to the NFL’s organizational resilience. Others caution that the event may have set a controversial precedent for future overseas games in volatile environments.
The Paris game marked the league’s first outing in France, following earlier international appearances in London and Mexico City. As the NFL continues to expand its global footprint, the Paris experience may serve as both a blueprint and a warning for future endeavors abroad.
