English
The Pittsburgh Steelers defeated the New Orleans Saints 16-10 on Sunday in the first NFL regular-season game ever played in Paris. The match took place at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, just one day after large-scale protests drew more than 100,000 people into the French capital’s streets.
The nationwide demonstrations largely overshadowed preparations for the game. Several fan events and NFL-organized activities were cancelled over the weekend, mainly because of their locations in central Paris. However, by Sunday morning, the mood around the stadium had shifted noticeably.
Stay connected to every major update — subscribe and follow us on the PhoenixQ website and across our social media platforms.
Calm Atmosphere Around the Stadium
Saturday’s rain gave way to sunshine on Sunday, and the atmosphere near the Stade de France was peaceful ahead of kickoff. The stadium sits in Saint-Denis, roughly 10 kilometers north of central Paris and more than 13 kilometers from Porte d’Italie, where Saturday’s protests had begun.
James Brown, a 51-year-old Saints fan who traveled to Paris specifically for the game, described the scene around the stadium as “wonderful, really good.” Police presence at the venue appeared neither heavy nor unusual. The Stade de France previously hosted rugby sevens and athletics during the 2024 Paris Olympics. It also regularly serves as the home ground for France’s national rugby and soccer teams.
Steelers fan Lukas Baldridge, 38, told Reuters that he and his group barely noticed the protests the day before. “We came in, went to a bar, got some drinks, got dinner, went home, didn’t see any protesting,” he said. “Streets were closed. Most shops were closed. That felt unusual maybe, but I don’t know enough about Paris to know what is normal and what’s not normal.”
Protests Across France on Saturday
Hundreds of thousands of people marched across France on Saturday. The French interior ministry reported 410,000 protesters nationwide, while organizers claimed the figure was “nearly 800,000.” The main demonstration took place on the southeastern edges of Paris, where at least 110,000 people gathered to protest rising living costs and growing inequality.
The rallies were largely peaceful during the day. However, clashes broke out in Paris and Marseille after nightfall, despite a major security operation aimed at preventing a repeat of the unrest seen the previous week.
A Festive Game Day in Paris
Inside the stadium, the atmosphere was celebratory. The game kicked off at 2:30 p.m. local time (1330 GMT) before a packed crowd. French sporting icons Antoine Dupont and Teddy Riner received introductions to the audience before play began. Earlier that day, several Steelers players arrived at the venue dressed as characters from the television series Peaky Blinders.
Although the Saints officially hosted the neutral-site game, Steelers supporters appeared to outnumber Saints fans inside the stadium. Saints linebacker Kaden Elliss acknowledged the mixed crowd at a post-game press conference. “It kind of felt 50/50,” he said. “This is such a fun atmosphere. Maybe not feel like the true home team, it was a very special atmosphere, one I wish we could have gotten a win in.”
Nigerian rapper Burna Boy and French singer Yseult performed during the halftime show. Saints head coach Kellen Moore praised the event at his post-game press conference. “I would like to start by saying how much we appreciate everyone who, in the country of France, Paris, Versailles, helped make this event happen,” he said. “I thought it was a really great event, really great game today.”
The first NFL regular-season game in Paris ultimately proceeded without major incident, delivering a competitive contest and a memorable occasion for fans who made the trip to the French capital.
