NFL breaks new ground in Brazil

The NFL made history on Friday night as São Paulo’s Neo Química Arena hosted the league’s first-ever game in South America.

A sold-out crowd of 47,236 watched on as the Philadelphia Eagles beat the Green Bay Packers 34-29 at the home of Campeonato Brasileiro Serie A football club Corinthians.

The game was attended by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and featured a half-time performance from Brazilian singer Anitta.

Neo Química Arena, also known as Corinthians Arena, was used during the 2014 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 Olympic Games. The NFL announced plans for its landmark game in Brazil back in December 2023.

The Eagles were the designated home team. The team traditionally plays in green – the colour of Corinthians’ arch-rival Palmeiras – but played in white for Friday’s game.

The slippery nature of the pitch at Neo Química Arena did attract some criticism from fans on social media, but the game was well received by supporters at the stadium and the team coaches.

Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni said: “What an atmosphere for a football game. I miss our fans at The Link (Lincoln Financial Field), but Brazil, wow! That was incredible. It was a fun atmosphere, it felt like a playoff atmosphere.”

Packers head coach Matt LaFleur added: “I thought the atmosphere was outstanding. A lot of credit to the fans tonight. They showed out. It was an incredible setting.”

Brazil is the latest country to host a regular-season NFL game, with the league also staging fixtures at London’s Wembley Stadium and Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, as well as Munich’s Allianz Arena and Deutsche Bank Park in Frankfurt. The league has also held games at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City.

In February, the NFL announced plans for a first regular-season game in Spain, with Madrid’s Santiago Bernabéu to play host in 2025. The teams for next year’s game in Madrid have not been confirmed, but the Miami Dolphins and Chicago Bears have international marketing rights in Spain as part of the NFL’s Global Markets Program.