NFL Says Steelers-Saints Game in Paris Stays On for Oct. 25 as French Protests Enter Third Week

The NFL is not moving its first regular-season game in France.

In a statement the league gave ESPN today, Oct. 14, it said: "We're excited for the first-ever regular season game in Paris, and preparations continue as scheduled for NFL events and the game at Stade de France on October 25." The Pittsburgh Steelers and New Orleans Saints are set to play in Saint-Denis, just north of Paris.

The statement added that the league works "closely with local authorities and partners on all operational and security matters" and looks forward to "welcoming fans to Paris later this month." It named no specific security measures beyond that routine coordination.

What is happening in France

The unrest began as high school student demonstrations over teacher shortages, under-resourced schools and decaying buildings. Students have described crumbling facilities and rats inside classrooms. According to the Associated Press, the protests have since widened into nationwide demonstrations that also touch on climate and social justice issues.

The scale is large. France's Interior Ministry put Tuesday's turnout at about 250,000 people across dozens of cities, from Caen in the north to Marseille in the south. Union activists, who have joined the students, claim the number was far higher. Unions are calling for continued action.

Some demonstrations have turned violent. Police have used tear gas and stun grenades. Protesters have reportedly set fires and caused property damage.

The arrest numbers are big. CBS News reported more than 5,000 people detained in connection with the protests. The AP counted more than 6,600 arrests nationwide as of last week.

The police response has produced serious injuries too. The AP reported that a police tear gas grenade shattered a 14-year-old's jaw and several teeth, and that a 15-year-old lost a hand in an incident involving a police stun grenade. Local officials say they are investigating both the protests and the police response.

Politics behind the protests

The French government is in what has been described as a "political deadlock" heading into presidential elections next spring. Protesters' demands on school funding and conditions have drawn no announced government plan in response.

Nothing in the political picture points to a quick end to the demonstrations.

The case for moving the game, and the case against

Fans have pushed the league to relocate. Yahoo Sports reported that fans "begged" the NFL to move the game because of the unrest. Some have questioned whether international expansion is worth sending players, staff and thousands of traveling supporters into a city in turmoil.

Others point the other way. Paris routinely hosts major international sporting events, and local authorities have extensive experience managing large crowds. The stadium itself is in Saint-Denis, outside the city proper.

The league also has a lot invested. The Saints, the designated home team, received international marketing rights in France in 2023. Saints owner Gayle Benson called it "a privilege" to take part in the NFL's first regular-season game in France, saying the game "represents another meaningful step in strengthening those cultural and economic ties." The 2026-27 season features a record number of games abroad, in Australia, England, France, Brazil, Spain, Germany and Mexico.

Is there a fallback?

There is precedent for moving a game, though the league's past relocations have generally come from weather or field conditions. In 2018, the NFL decided the field in Mexico City was unsuitable and moved the Chiefs-Rams game to Los Angeles.

The obvious alternative this time is New Orleans. CBS Sports noted that the Superdome's only listed event that day is a youth and amateur sports event scheduled for 8:30 a.m. local time, so the building appears to be available. The league has announced no change to the game's date, venue or broadcast plans.

The Steelers played in Dublin last season against the Vikings. The Saints last played abroad in 2022, in London.

What to watch

The NFL has not said what would make it move the game. With kickoff 11 days away, the league's decision depends on whether the unrest eases or spreads, and on what French authorities tell it about security around Stade de France. If neither changes, the game goes ahead on Oct. 25.