In a historic move for the NFL, the Philadelphia Eagles are slated to play the league's first-ever regular-season game in Brazil, as announced on Monday by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell during a media conference at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada. This landmark event is set to take place in São Paulo at the Corinthians Arena on Friday, September 6, 2024, marking the NFL's first Friday game on an opening weekend in over five decades.

Goodell expressed excitement about the NFL's growth prospects on a global scale, emphasizing the league's commitment to becoming a global sport and the enthusiasm from both fans and media partners worldwide. This international expansion is a testament to the NFL's efforts to access more fans globally, not just within the United States.

This will be the second International Series Game in the regular season for the Eagles, who played in London during the 2018 campaign and defeated the Jacksonville Jaguars, 24-18 at Wembley Stadium. The Eagles played preseason games in Mexico City in 1978, London in 1989 and '91, and in Tokyo in 1993.

The Eagles will face an as-yet-unnamed opponent in this groundbreaking match. The choice of Brazil for hosting an NFL game underscores the league's strategy to tap into new markets, with Brazil being a country that has shown increased interest in American football, particularly during the playoffs and the Super Bowl. The NFL's focus on Brazil is backed by the league's data, which counts 38 million fans in the country.

The Corinthians Arena, chosen as the venue for this historic game, is notable for hosting significant events like the 2014 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 Olympic soccer matches, highlighting its capability to accommodate world-class sporting events. This game is a part of the NFL's broader initiative to play international games, which has already seen matches in England and Germany, and there are plans to include Spain in the rotation by 2025.

The announcement of playing in Brazil is part of the NFL's resolution that compels each team to participate in an international game at least once every four years, aiming to expand the league's global audience and strengthen its international presence. The Eagles' participation in this game is a clear signal of the NFL's intentions to grow the sport globally and offer new experiences to its international fan base.