Eagles will host Week 1 Friday game in Brazil
The NFL will be doing something it has never done before when it starts the 2024 regular season: have an international game.
Speaking at his annual press conference on Super Bowl Opening Night, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell announced that the Philadelphia Eagles will be the host team in the league’s first game in Brazil, and it will be playing on Friday night of Week 1. Philadelphia’s opponent was not revealed.
With the announcement, the NFL will have its season kickoff on Thursday, Sept. 5, the Brazil game the following day and games on that Sunday and Monday.
“The Eagles organization is honored to have been selected to play in the firstever National Football League game in South America,” Eagles chairman and chief executive officer Jeffrey Lurie said in a statement. “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.”
The Brazil game, which will be played at Corinthians Arena in the city of São Paulo, will be the latest international game added to the NFL’s schedule. The game in São Paulo will be one of five international regular-season games next season. Three games will be played in London, with Tottenham Hotspur Stadium hosting two games and Wembley Stadium hosting a Jacksonville Jaguars home game. Another game will be played in Germany, with the league returning to Allianz Arena in Munich.
2024 NFL international game home teams
The NFL had previously announced which will be the host teams of each international game. The teams are:
Philadelphia Eagles: São Paulo, Corinthians Arena.
Chicago Bears: London, Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Minnesota Vikings: London, Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Jacksonville Jaguars: London, Wembley Stadium.
Carolina Panthers: Munich, Allianz Arena.
The NFL will continue to expand its international game series in the future; the NFL owners recently approved an increase in international games beginning in 2025, meaning up to eight regular-season games can be played outside the U.S. in a season.