SAINT-DENIS, France — The NFL’s first regular-season game in France is still set for Sunday at Stade de France, even as protests over living costs and schools roil Paris and a windstorm scrambles the week’s fan events.
The Pittsburgh Steelers and New Orleans Saints meet at the national stadium in Saint-Denis, about 10 kilometers from the center of the capital. Pittsburgh quarterback Aaron Rodgers told reporters Friday that he trusts the league is watching the situation closely and would not have brought the teams over if conditions were unsafe.
French soccer has already blinked. Paris Saint-Germain’s Ligue 1 match with Lyon, planned for Sunday, was pushed to Monday night after police asked for the move, citing security and the load on officers during a weekend that also includes the NFL game.
The unrest has been some of the worst France has seen in years, with some estimates putting last weekend’s marchers near 800,000. President Emmanuel Macron tightened rules on demonstrations Thursday ahead of new marches planned for Saturday.
The U.S. State Department issued an alert Thursday night urging Americans to steer clear of protests, crowds and heavy police activity, and told fans in town for the game to stay alert. The department noted that recent demonstrations involved looting, property damage and attacks on police, and that marches can stray from their permitted routes.
The league has said it is coordinating with local authorities and that its sites have not been disrupted. Commissioner Roger Goodell said earlier in the week that plans were made with American and French officials. Still, the Steelers scrapped a fan gathering in the Bastille area, and weather tied to Storm Austen wiped out a Steelers practice at the stadium and a flag football event near the Eiffel Tower on Friday.
On the field, Pittsburgh edge rusher T.J. Watt has been limited by a calf issue, with a decision expected after Saturday’s practice. The Saints flew in directly following their win over the Giants in New York and are practicing in Versailles.
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