The NFL confirmed Sunday that preparations are moving forward for its inaugural regular-season game in France, even as violent demonstrations and civil unrest shake Paris and other French cities.
The Week 7 matchup between the New Orleans Saints and the Pittsburgh Steelers is scheduled for Oct. 25 at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, just north of Paris. Kickoff is slated for 9:30 a.m. Eastern time, marking the first time the league has staged a regular-season contest in the country.
“Preparations continue as scheduled for NFL events and the game at Stade de France next Sunday,” an NFL spokesperson said in an email, as reported by NBC Sports. “We continue to work closely with local authorities and partners on all operational and security matters. We are also providing the two clubs with regular updates. . . . There’s been no disruption or impact at league sites.”
Protests and property damage across the country
The unrest erupted into violence Saturday after widespread marches drew between 500,000 and 800,000 demonstrators across France, according to Fox News. In Paris alone, an estimated 110,000 demonstrators filled streets clouded by smoke and tear gas, HITC reported. The protests were ignited by rising living expenses and concerns over deteriorating public services and schools.
While many demonstrated peacefully, masked groups clashed with police officers, looted stores and set fires to private vehicles and public property, Fox News reported. In Limoges, demonstrators set fire to the historic city hall, leaving the structure largely destroyed. Police arrested between 1,000 and 1,800 people nationwide, including 855 detentions in the Paris metropolitan area, according to reports cited by Fox News.
Former President Donald Trump commented on the unrest Sunday morning on Truth Social, writing that “France is burning” and criticizing those involved, Fox News reported.
Logistical hurdles and contingency options
Despite the turmoil, the Saints plan to travel straight to France following their Sunday road game against the New York Giants, according to Saints Executive Vice President and General Manager Mickey Loomis, as reported by Fox News. New Orleans intends to spend the entire week in France to adjust to the local time zone.
The league has previously relocated international fixtures on short notice, such as shifting a 2018 game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Los Angeles Rams from Mexico City to California because of poor turf conditions, Bleacher Report noted. An anonymous league source told OutKick that the NFL could consider an alternative site if conditions deteriorate further, Fox News reported.
Relocating the contest back to the United States would present scheduling challenges, however:
- The Caesars Superdome in New Orleans is already booked for another event on Oct. 25.
- Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh is currently available on that date.
- The Saints hold a Week 8 bye after the trip, while the Steelers are scheduled to host the Cleveland Browns on Nov. 1.
The Paris fixture is the opening contest in a slate of four upcoming overseas games, with later stops scheduled in Madrid, Munich and Mexico City, Bleacher Report reported. League officials will continue monitoring security conditions alongside French authorities throughout the coming week before making any final travel adjustments.
