The NFL will hold its Week 7 game between the New Orleans Saints and Pittsburgh Steelers in Paris on Sunday, October 25, despite mass protests and heightened security across France. The league confirmed the matchup will take place at Stade de France with kickoff at 9:30 a.m. ET, maintaining its original schedule amid escalating civil unrest.
The NFL issued a statement Sunday confirming ongoing collaboration with local authorities and partners to manage operational and security concerns. “We continue to work closely with local authorities and partners on all operational and security matters,” the league said. Both teams are receiving regular updates, and the NFL has reported no disruptions at its sites so far.
The announcement follows a weekend of widespread demonstrations in Paris and other parts of France, where approximately 550,000 people took part in protests on Saturday, according to the BBC. The unrest centers on public dissatisfaction with rising living costs and proposed education spending cuts.
Authorities responded to the protests with force, conducting at least 1,200 arrests and deploying tear gas and water cannons during increasingly violent clashes captured on video. Despite the volatile atmosphere, the NFL has not announced any changes to the game schedule or related events.
Sunday’s Saints-Steelers game will be the NFL’s first regular-season contest held in France, continuing the league’s international expansion efforts. It is part of a broader plan that includes nine international games scheduled for the 2026 season, with Paris joining cities like London and Mexico City as hosts.
Preparations on the ground remain steady, with both teams awaiting further updates from the league as officials monitor the situation in France. The NFL’s position remains clear: the game will proceed as planned, with enhanced security measures in place.
The Saints-Steelers matchup is one of the few international games slated in the current NFL calendar, highlighting the league’s ongoing push to grow its global footprint despite local challenges. The situation will be closely watched in the lead-up to Sunday’s kickoff.
According to Yahoo Sports.