On Monday, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell revealed that the Philadelphia Eagles would host the league’s inaugural regular-season game in Brazil, making the announcement during his state of the NFL media conference at Allegiant Stadium. Scheduled for Friday, Sept. 6, in São Paolo, the Eagles, who haven’t played an international game since 2018, will take on an opponent yet to be disclosed. This marks the NFL’s first Friday game on opening weekend in over five decades. Goodell expressed immense enthusiasm about the league’s global expansion, affirming the commitment from ownership to increase annual global games.
Anticipating positive reactions from fans and media partners, he emphasized the potential for the NFL to become a truly global sport in the near future. Brazil, a new addition to the NFL’s international lineup this year, is seen as a strategic move to reach a broader global audience. Goodell is optimistic about the venture, anticipating it to be a tremendous success. According to NFL.com, Brazil boasts 38 million NFL fans, with a growing interest in playoffs and the Super Bowl.
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The game is likely to be held at the 49,000-seat Corinthians Arena, which previously hosted World Cup matches in 2014 and Olympic soccer matches in 2016. The NFL, already conducting international games in England and Germany, may extend its reach to Spain in 2025, following a fall resolution that mandates each team to play an international game every four years.
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