NFL pushes ahead with Paris game despite French unrest
Security logistics and French protests test the league's international expansion plans as the Saints face the Steelers at Stade de France.
The NFL plans to stage its first regular-season game in France on October 25, moving forward with the event at Stade de France despite recent protests and civil unrest across the country. The matchup between the New Orleans Saints and Pittsburgh Steelers will test the league’s international expansion strategy in a volatile security environment.
League officials confirmed preparations are continuing in coordination with local authorities, according to reports. Football operations and security staff from the Saints have been working directly with the NFL and French partners to manage logistics for the trip.
Sep 27, 2026; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; New Orleans Saints head coach Kellen Moore looks on in the second half against the Las Vegas Raiders at Caesars Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-Imagn Images
France has experienced recurring waves of mass demonstrations over the past three years, ranging from pension reform strikes in 2023 to agricultural blockades that paralyzed major highways earlier this year. Transport disruptions remain a persistent risk for large-scale events in the Paris region. The NFL previously navigated similar challenges during its long-running London series, but the French capital presents distinct logistical hurdles tied to frequent labor actions and decentralized protest movements.
Stade de France, located in the northern suburb of Saint-Denis, hosted matches during the 2024 Summer Olympics. Security perimeters established for those events required thousands of police and military personnel. Replicating that footprint for a single American football game demands substantial resources from both the league and the French state.
The coaching staffs bring overlapping histories to the field. Saints head coach Kellen Moore spent three seasons as offensive coordinator for the Dallas Cowboys under McCarthy before taking the New Orleans job. Moore credited McCarthy with supporting his development as a younger coach.
Saints offensive coordinator Doug Nussmeier and quarterbacks coach Scott Tolzien also previously worked with McCarthy in Dallas, creating multiple direct links between the two sidelines.
McCarthy took over the Steelers after longtime head coach Mike Tomlin departed the franchise. His arrival in Pittsburgh marked a significant shift for an organization that had employed only three head coaches since 1969.
The NFL has staged regular-season games in London since 2007, expanded to Germany in 2022, and played in Brazil in 2024. Adding France represents the next phase of a strategy designed to convert international viewership into sustained commercial revenue through merchandise sales, media rights negotiations, and potential future franchise relocations or expansions.
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