NFL Approves Doubling of International Games in 2025; Adds Brazil Game for 2024

The National Football League will play a regular season game in São Paulo, Brazil, in 2024, the first time it visits South America, while also approving an increase to eight international games a season beginning in 2025.

“Becoming a global sport is a major strategic priority for the league and 32 teams,” said Roger Goodell, NFL commissioner. “Increasing international game inventory allows us to grow our global presence and share our game with exciting new markets to connect with more fans around the world.”

In addition to the game in São Paulo, the 2024 NFL International Games will see three games in London: two at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and a third at Wembley Stadium, where the Jacksonville Jaguars will play a home game as part of a multi-year partnership. A fifth game will see the NFL in Germany for a third consecutive year, returning to Allianz Arena in Munich after having two games this season in Frankfurt.

“As a league, we welcome the update to this resolution that will ultimately see us play more games internationally than ever before, helping us to expand our global footprint and connect our teams and athletes with new audiences,” said Joel Glazer, chairman of the NFL’s International Committee and owner of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. “International games have been a huge success, and we are excited for the opportunity to share the sport of American football with more fans from around the world in the future.”

The 2024 game in Brazil will take place at the Corinthians Arena, home to Brazilian soccer team SC Corinthians. The stadium was an official venue for both the 2014 FIFA World Cup and 2016 Olympic Summer Games.

“The National Football League’s decision to bring a regular season game to São Paulo is significant and exciting for the city, consolidating São Paulo and Brazil at the center of the global sporting stage,” said Ricardo Nunes, mayor of São Paulo. “Through our hard work, we will now be able to welcome the NFL to our city, hosting this historic game that will have a positive impact on tourism, employment and the city’s economy.”

Brazil is an important global market for the NFL, with more than 38 million fans of the game — the second largest international fan base after Mexico, which hosted the first international regular season game in 2005 when the Arizona Cardinals played the San Francisco 49ers at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City.

Since then, 50 international regular season games have been played in London (36), Toronto (6), Mexico City (5), Frankfurt (2 in 2023) and Munich (1).

“The more that people see the opportunity, we see fans rallying around the event and the city coming to life and backing the sport,” NFL UK General Manager Henry Hodgson said earlier this year at TEAMS Europe. “Last year we saw it in hyper-speed in Germany where we had a great event that was really embraced by the public. I think showing what can be done and showing the passion for the sport that exists outside the U.S., the momentum really starts going along once people get to see that.”

NFL Flag programming was launched in Brazil in 2023 in partnership with the Brazilian American Football Confederation to grow flag football at the grassroots and elite level, following the announcement of flag football’s inclusion in the 2028 Olympic Summer Games in Los Angeles.

“Bringing the NFL to new continents, countries and cities around the world is a critical element of our plan to continue to grow the game globally,” said Goodell. “Brazil has established itself as a key market for the NFL, and we are excited to be playing in Brazil and São Paulo for the first time in 2024. We look forward to working with the city of São Paulo, SP Turis and Corinthians Arena to deliver a world-class game day experience for this passionate and growing fan base.”