NFL readies for Steelers-Saints in Paris amid civil unrest, security concerns

Why this is trending now

NFL readies for Steelers-Saints in Paris amid civil unrest and security concerns because authorities in the French capital are considering curfews just days before Sunday's game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and New Orleans Saints at Stade de France. The security situation has partly overshadowed the buildup to the NFL's first regular season game in France, even as the league says its preparations are on schedule.

The NFL put out a statement Sunday saying "preparations continue as scheduled for NFL events and the game at Stade de France." The league said it is working closely with local authorities and partners on operational and security matters and is giving both clubs regular updates, adding there has been "no disruption or impact at league sites."

What is not spelled out yet is the specific trigger behind the unrest or whether any curfew will actually be in place by kickoff. The league's statement addressed its own events and sites, not the city's broader security picture, so that piece is still developing as the week goes on.

The buildup the league had already planned

Before the unrest became part of the story, the week was shaping up as a showcase. The Saints arrived in Paris on Monday morning with their own fan events on the calendar, and the NFL has an "NFL House" set to open later in the week along with other fan activities around the city.

The league also leaned on local partnerships to sell the game. Soccer club Paris Saint-Germain announced it partnered with the NFL on two distinct game jerseys for the event, and Saints players were invited to PSG's Champions League match against Barcelona at Parc des Princes on Tuesday night.

Mbappe, Dupont and the push for new fans

The NFL paired with PSG and French stars Kylian Mbappe and rugby player Antoine Dupont to help promote the game. Mbappe, the France and Real Madrid star, put on shoulder pads and a helmet for an NFL social media segment with Atlanta Falcons running back Bijan Robinson.

Brett Gosper, the NFL's head of Europe and Asia-Pacific, said the collaborations raise the sport's profile and make it more accessible to people in France who are not as familiar with it. Antoine Griezmann, a former France international soccer star who now plays for Orlando City in MLS, has also been a longtime NFL supporter through podcasts and TV appearances.

What the league is chasing, and what happens next

Gosper told the Associated Press that France has been a market of "high interest" for some time, and that the league wants this week to feel like a "mini-Super Bowl" that introduces new fans to the sport. He said the league is pretty confident it will be a successful execution of the game.

The Saints left for Paris from New York right after beating the Giants 34-27 on Sunday. Coach Kellen Moore said afterward that "our guys are really looking forward to this." Whether the league turns Paris into an annual stop is still an open question. Gosper said that call has not been made yet, and Sunday's game, set against the backdrop of the city's security planning, is the actual test of how this week comes together.

Facts per ESPN. Opinion is the taproom's.