Paris welcomes first NFL game with a party a day after protests

The Pittsburgh Steelers ⁠defeated the New ​Orleans Saints 16-10 in the first NFL regular-season game in Paris on Sunday, in a calm and festive atmosphere, a ​day after fresh demonstrations drew more than 100,000 people to the French capital. The nationwide protests largely overshadowed the build-up to the game, with some fan and NFL events cancelled over the weekend, mainly due to their location in central Paris. Read moreFrench interior ministry says 410,000 protested across France, organisers claim 'nearly 800,000' On ​Sunday, as Saturday’s ‌rain gave way to sunshine, the mood was peaceful before kickoff around the Stade ⁠de France in Saint-Denis, some 10km (6 miles) north of Paris centre and more than 13km (8 miles) from Porte d'Italie, where Saturday's protests began in southern Paris. James ‌Brown, a 51-year-old Saints fan who travelled to Paris especially for the game, told Reuters the ⁠atmosphere around the stadium was "wonderful, really good". Read moreNFL would cancel Paris game if unsafe due to protests, Steelers QB Aaron Rodgers says The police presence appeared neither heavy nor unusual at the Stade de France, which hosted rugby sevens and athletics during the 2024 Pari...