Rubio Assures Goodell NFL Game in France Will Be Safe

United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio has provided assurances to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell that the upcoming NFL game in France will proceed without incident, despite ongoing civil unrest in the country. Goodell, who is preparing to travel to France for the game, stated he is confident in the safety measures in place, citing conversations with Rubio.

"Our embassy feels the game will be fine," Rubio told OutKick and Fox News Digital. "We have no indication the game will be impacted in any way." Rubio confirmed he spoke with Goodell a few days prior, relaying the U.S. embassy's assessment.

Goodell, speaking at the close of the NFL's Fall League Meeting, indicated that the league has been in contact with appropriate authorities and is aware of the protests occurring in France. "Protests are not unusual in France, as you know. And that's something that we will be aware of and make sure that the appropriate arrangements are made," Goodell said. He added that his comfort level regarding the game's safety is "very high."

The NFL game, featuring the Pittsburgh Steelers and New Orleans Saints, is scheduled to take place at Stade de France on Sunday. Reports from French media indicate that a significant protest is planned for Saturday, the day before the game, in Paris. While the Saints team arrived in France earlier in the week without any reported issues, the Steelers are scheduled to arrive on Friday.

Rubio, who was not planning to attend the game, emphasized that his decision was not related to recent events or security concerns. He stated that his attendance was never part of his plans.