Fly, Eagles, Fly – all the way to São Paulo, Brazil. It’s a trip the Philadelphia Eagles will make during Week 1 of the NFL’s 2024 regular season and will mark the first time an NFL game will be played in South America.
The announcement was made on Monday (June 5) by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell.
“This landmark first international game in South America demonstrates the ongoing expansion of our global footprint,” Goodell said in a statement. “Playing on Friday night of Week 1 is a unique way to highlight our international growth and ambitions.”
An opponent for the Eagles has not been revealed yet, but it will be prior to the full 2024 regular-season schedule being released in the spring. The official date of the game is September 6, 2024, which is on the eve of Independence Day for Brazil.
According to the NFL, this is the first time a game will be played on a Friday night of Week 1 since the St. Louis Cardinals (now Arizona Cardinals) met the Los Angeles Rams in 1970.
“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,” Jeffrey Lurie, Philadelphia Eagles chairman and chief executive officer, said in a statement. “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.”
Along with the Eagles, the Chicago Bears, Minnesota Vikings, Jacksonville Jaguars, and Carolina Panthers are the other NFL teams designated to play international games during the 2024 season. The Bears, Vikings, and Jaguars will play games in London. The Panthers will play in Munich.
