Eagles will be the home team for the first NFL game in Brazil
The Philadelphia Eagles will host the first ever NFL game in Brazil. League commissioner Roger Goodell announced the decision during his pre-Super Bowl press conference, and the game will be played on Friday, September 6, a day after the regular season kickoff. “This landmark first international game in South America demonstrates the ongoing expansion of […]
The Philadelphia Eagles will host the first ever NFL game in Brazil. League commissioner Roger Goodell announced the decision during his pre-Super Bowl press conference, and the game will be played on Friday, September 6, a day after the regular season kickoff.
“This landmark first international game in South America demonstrates the ongoing expansion of our global footprint," Goodell said. “Playing on Friday night of Week 1 is a unique way to highlight our international growth and ambitions."
The game will be at Neo Quimica Arena, in São Paulo. The stadium belongs to Brazilian soccer club Corinthians, and it was one of the hosts of the 2014 Fifa World Cup.
“The Eagles organization is honored to have been selected to play in the first-ever National Football League game in South America," said Jeffrey Lurie, Philadelphia Eagles chairman and chief executive officer. “With the global growth of our sport being a top priority to our league, we embrace the opportunity to grow our fanbase around the world and bring Eagles football to the 38 million sports fans in Brazil. As one of the world's most culturally diverse nations, Brazil is an international melting pot, and we look forward to experiencing its warm, vibrant and welcoming environment later this year."
There are seven possible opponents for the Eagles in Brazil. The team plays nine home games in 2024, but the Jacksonville Jaguars are already slated to play in the United Kingdom, and the Carolina Panthers will host a game in Germany.
Therefore, the potential options are the Washington Commanders, Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants, Atlanta Falcons, Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers, or Green Bay Packers.
“The league's decision to play the game in the first week of the NFL 2024 season is a true testament to their confidence in our work as host city," said Ricardo Nunes, mayor of São Paulo. “Having this historic spectacle on the eve of Independence Day and driving a great economic impact and job creation for São Paulo, will spotlight our city as a globally relevant destination for the world's most exciting sport and entertainment events."
The NFL has made international games in the United Kingdom, Germany, and Mexico. Canada has received several games in its history, but hasn’t hosted a regular season game since 2013. Japan, Sweden, Ireland, and Australia have already hosted preseason games as well.
Football growth in Brazil
Brazil has been a growing market for football since the 2010s. The sport has gone through a significant boom in popularity, and it's one of the biggest NFL markets outside of North America.
NFL representatives visited several stadiums in Brazil over the last few months. Neo Quimica Arena, of soccer club Corinthians, is expected to host the game in São Paulo. It was built before the 2014 FIFA World Cup. Morumbi and Allianz Parque, also in São Paulo, and Maracanã, in Rio de Janeiro, were visited by the league as well.
It makes more sense for the NFL to organize regular season games than preseason games outside of the United States, because rosters are smaller.
It's also smart for the league to send to Brazil a game early in the season, because the Southern Hemisphere's spring starts in September, and it might become too warm to play football. Furthermore, at that time of the year, there is only a one-hour difference in the time zone between the US East Coast and Brazil.
How football became popular in Brazil
São Paulo is going to host an NFL game in 2024
