Although NFL teams have played abroad previously, this match is historic because it marks the NFL’s first-ever regular season game in South America.
The National Football League has a history of hosting international games in foreign countries. Often, the NFL hosts non-domestic games in Europe, most commonly in London. England’s capital has hosted 36 regular season games, more than double the amount hosted by all other cities — including Toronto, Mexico City, Frankfurt and Munich — combined.
Home to 36 million NFL fans, Brazil is third among the countries with the biggest NFL fan bases outside of the US. Additionally, the NFL has been involved in Brazil long before this regular season game, having previously hosted flag football tournaments and Super Bowl watch parties in Brazil.
Saquon Barkley, who was newly traded to the Eagles, had a standout game in Sao Paulo’s Corinthians Arena, with 24 carries for 109 yards and two touchdowns.
Although the Eagles came out of Brazil with a 34-29 win, several Eagles players expressed that they previously were not looking forward to playing in Brazil.
As Darius Slay Jr., an Eagles cornerback, put it on his podcast, “Man, I do not want to go to Brazil.” This is primarily because of all the protocols that the NFL requires players to follow when playing in a foreign country.
However, the decision for the NFL to expand into Brazil follows the league’s mission to expand into a “true global sports partner,” according to Peter O’Rilley, the NFL’s Executive Vice President of Club Business and International League Events.
The NFL previously created a European football league which lasted from 1991-2007, which enabled them to connect American football with other countries around the world. By hosting international competitions, the NFL hopes to broaden their fanbase.
Starting in the 2025-2026 season, Roger Goodell, the CEO of the NFL, is obliging each team to play one international game every four years. Since there are 32 teams in the NFL, there could be eight international games each season beginning in 2025.
The NFL is set to play four additional out of country games this season with three in London and one in Munich. The New York Jets will play the Minnesota Vikings on Oct. 6 in London, then the Jacksonville Jaguars will play the Chicago Bears on Oct. 13.
The Jaguars will stay in London to play the New England Patriots on Oct. 20, and finally the Carolina Panthers will face the New York Giants on Nov. 10 in Munich.
Additionally, the NFL is planning on hosting its first regular season game in Spain during the 2025-2026 season. The game will be played at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium, home to the world-renowned Real Madrid Football Club.
Interest in the NFL has spiked since players like Travis and Jason Kelce have gone viral on social media in the US and many foreign countries. The top-searched NFL player internationally is Travis Kelce, while his team, the Kansas City Chiefs, rank as the most searched team.
In addition to Kelce’s successful career, his girlfriend Taylor Swift helped boost his popularity. Taylor Swift has held international crowds of all ages captivated around the world at her Eras Tour, where Kelce even made an appearance.
Kelce, now over six months into this very publicized relationship, has contributed to the recent increase in popularity in the NFL in the US as well as globally. The NFL is beginning to grow its relevance on the global stage by hosting many international competitions in different continents and by its players’ successes.
