The NFL’s first regular-season game in France was expected to be a historic occasion for the league. However, an unexpected moment during the pregame ceremony drew attention before the Pittsburgh Steelers and New Orleans Saints took the field Sunday.
The controversy centered on the performance of France’s national anthem, La Marseillaise. Singer Nina Tonji appeared to alter a line from the traditional lyrics, prompting questions and criticism from some viewers on social media.
Oct 25, 2026; Paris, FRA; Ninba Tonji performs the National Anthem of France prior to a game between Pittsburgh Steelers and New Orleans Saints at Stade de France Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Oct 25, 2026; Paris, FRA; Ninba Tonji performs the National Anthem of France prior to a game between Pittsburgh Steelers and New Orleans Saints at Stade de France Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Here is the video the National Anthem:
Nina Tonji performs the national anthem of France live from @StadeFrance 🇫🇷 @NFLFrance
PITvsNO on NFL Network
Stream on @NFLPlus https://t.co/1JBfVCNsfz
— NFL (@NFL) October 25, 2026
Here is a look at the reactions online to this video:
SHE CHANGED THE ANTHEM OF FRANCE. WHAT A LACK OF RESPECT.
You just changed the lyrics to our national anthem, go f yourselves.
Why change the anthem’s “impure blood” to “united blood”
WTF. This thing changed the lyrics ? We won’t tolerate this. Deport her and block this woke ignorant from entering again.
According to Fox News:
Tonji changed “Qu’un sang impur abreuve nos sillons!” to “Qu’un sang uni abreuve nos sillons!,” and that was clearly done on purpose because it has political and societal ramifications.
“Qu’un sang impur abreuve nos sillons” means “May impure blood water our furrows/fields.” In the revolutionary context of La Marseillaise, “impure blood” referred to enemies and traitors – particularly French immigrants fighting alongside foreign armies.
Replacing impur (“impure”) with uni (“united”) changes the meaning of the passage from from a call for enemy blood to nourish France’s soil into an appeal for national unity and solidarity that includes immigrants to nourish France’s soil.
Tonji thus changed the song’s tone from violent exclusion of a foreign enemy to a message of unity with foreigners.
She gave immigrants cover that La Marseillaise did not in 1792 when it was written during the French Revolution.
And, yes, this rendition represented a lyrical alteration by the Tonji that departed from the traditional wording of the French national anthem. But it comes at a time when people in France are on edge about immigration and foreigners.
Oct 25, 2026; Paris, FRA; A Make Noise message in English and French during the 2026 NFL Paris Game between the New Orleans Saints and the Pittsburgh Steelers at Stade de France. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Oct 25, 2026; Paris, FRA; A Make Noise message in English and French during the 2026 NFL Paris Game between the New Orleans Saints and the Pittsburgh Steelers at Stade de France. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
As reported by French media outlet Europe 1, no public explanation for the altered wording had been provided by Monday. It remains unclear whether the change was intentional.
The moment unfolded ahead of a significant event for the NFL, which brought a regular-season game to France for the first time. The Steelers and Saints met at the Stade de France, with Pittsburgh earning a 16-10 victory.
While the game itself marked an important milestone in the league’s international expansion, the anthem performance became an unexpected talking point before kickoff. The reaction highlighted how even a brief moment during a major sporting event can draw attention when it involves a country’s national traditions.