The Philadelphia Eagles will kick off their 2024 regular season on international soil along with starting the NFL season on a new day.
Philadelphia will host the NFL’s first-ever game in Brazil in Week 1 on Friday, Sept. 6, commissioner Roger Goodell announced Monday.
“We embrace the opportunity to grow our fan base around the world and bring Eagles football to the 38 million sports fans in Brazil,” Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie said in a statement. “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.”
This will mark the first time that the league plays an opening week matchup on a Friday. Philly’s opponent and kickoff time will be announced at a later date.
“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 take place at Neo Quimica Arena (also known as the Corinthians Arena) in Sao Paulo. This location hosted multiple games in the 2014 FIFA World Cup, including the tournament’s opening match. The stadium was also a venue for the 2016 Olympics.
The NFL has strongly been pushing to expand its market outside of the United States in recent years. This includes having already staged games in the United Kingdom, Mexico, and Germany. In 2023, the league also sent officials to Madrid to scout possible locations for regular-season contests.
This is just another step in the growing empire that is the NFL. I am sure this game will be successful, and we will see another game or two happen in South America.
Jaden Chandler-Parnell, or “JC” is a Sports & Sports Betting Insider for Stare Down Sports. You can Follow him on X @Jaden95Chandler
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