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NFL Confirms Saints-Steelers Game in France on Oct. 25

By Drooid · Oct 21, 2026, 2:50 AM UTC · How we work

Summary

NFL Confirms France Game

The NFL confirmed the Saints-Steelers game will proceed in France on Oct. 25 as scheduled.
French interior ministry reported about 2,400 arrests and 997 police injuries during nationwide protests.
Saints senior vice president Greg Bensel said the team supports the NFL decision and sees no security impact.
NFL executives Peter O’Reilly and security chief Cathy Lanier said heightened security measures are in place.

Summary

Macron Rejects Resignation

President Emmanuel Macron rejected Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez’s resignation and ordered Nuñez to stay, improving police coordination.
Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu announced localized overnight curfews in Paris, Lille and Lyon from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m.
Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez pledged full transparency on intelligence failures that preceded Saturday’s violence.
Far-right leader Marine Le Pen called for expanded police powers to combat rioters.

History

Historical Context

May 1968 saw French students and workers clash with police, culminating in a massive Gaullist rally of up to one million on the Champs-Élysées and a June 23 election that gave Charles de Gaulle’s party 353 of 486 seats. The legacy of tight security resurfaces today as Paris hosts an NFL game, prompting President Emmanuel Macron and Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez to impose curfews.

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NFL Confirms France Game

The NFL confirmed the Saints-Steelers game will proceed in France on Oct. 25 as scheduled.
French interior ministry reported about 2,400 arrests and 997 police injuries during nationwide protests.
Saints senior vice president Greg Bensel said the team supports the NFL decision and sees no security impact.
NFL executives Peter O’Reilly and security chief Cathy Lanier said heightened security measures are in place.

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