Steelers Beat Saints in Paris Amidst City Unrest

The Pittsburgh Steelers emerged victorious against the New Orleans Saints in the NFL's inaugural game held in France, which proceeded successfully despite a week of protests and civil unrest in Paris leading up to the matchup. The league had faced scrutiny over the decision to proceed with the game given the violence, looting, and vandalism occurring in the city due to widespread anger over the cost of living, public services, and other issues. Even President Donald Trump had expressed concerns about the event.

Despite these challenges, and even with the local soccer team Paris Saint-Germain postponing its Saturday match, the NFL continued as planned. Fans who traveled to Paris also expressed that their experience had not been significantly disrupted. "If I’m being honest, I have not seen enough. I’ve seen some graffiti everywhere, but I haven’t seen anything myself," one fan told OutKick outside the Stade de France. Another added, "For the most part, it hasn’t been a problem. There’s been a few delays and disturbances, but it hasn’t been that big of a problem."

One fan from Mexico, accustomed to protests related to crime and economic issues, stated, "It don’t matter. Mexico is almost the same... I came for the game."

Enhanced security measures were in place, with the NFL collaborating with Parisian police, French national authorities, and the U.S. State Department to ensure safety. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, Saints owner Gayle Benson, and Steelers owner Art Rooney II met with President Emmanuel Macron at the Élysée Palace to discuss safety plans prior to the game.

Fans noted some minor inconveniences, such as boarded-up storefronts or cracked glass in some areas. "There are some stores I want to go to that are boarded up a little bit, or have cracks in their glass," one fan observed. "But other than that, the city seems great. It’s not as bad as I was expecting." Another fan felt that the protests had gone too far when property destruction and violence were involved, stating, "When they start tearing stuff up, yes sir. When they start burning vehicles and stuff, yeah, that’s too far."

Goodell and Secretary of State Marco Rubio had affirmed that the game would proceed without major incident, a prediction that proved accurate. The NFL has five more international games scheduled for the 2026 season, including matchups in Madrid, Munich, and Mexico City.