The NFL brought American football to Paris, France, for the first time Sunday, Oct. 25, but at halftime, the league wisely let the rest of the world take over.
Nigerian superstar Burna Boy headlined the halftime show at Stade de France during the Pittsburgh Steelers’ 16–10 victory over the New Orleans Saints, delivering a performance that included hits such as “Ye,” “On the Low” and “Last Last.” French singer Yseult joined him, giving the historic occasion a musical pairing that reflected the league’s increasingly international ambitions.
For Burna Boy, the venue was familiar territory as he’s been here before. In 2025, the Grammy-winning artist became the first African musician to headline Stade de France, a milestone in Afrobeats’ remarkable rise from a regional sound to a global cultural force.
Related: Jay-Z Closed His 30 Tour With Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg—and a Warning About AI
A year later, he returned to the same stadium to entertain an audience gathered around a distinctly American sport. Not too bad for an encore.
The pairing with Yseult was particularly fitting. The French singer has built an international following with her powerful vocals and genre-crossing pop-and-soul approach. Together, the two performers represented something the NFL is learning as it continues expanding overseas: bringing American football to international audiences requires more than shipping the product abroad and hoping everyone develops an appreciation for third-and-long.
It also means the NFL has recognized the culture already there.
The league has spent years developing its international footprint through regular-season games in London, Germany, and other markets. Paris represented another significant step, placing the NFL inside one of Europe’s most recognizable sporting venues while tapping artists whose appeal stretches across continents.
Related: Aaron Rodgers Went Full ‘Peaky Blinders’ in Paris. To Bad the Show was Set in England.
And while Pittsburgh left France with the win, the halftime show also underscored the NFL’s global ambitions.
American football might have brought everyone to Stade de France. Burna Boy and Yseult made sure the soundtrack belonged to the world.
