RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL — Sept. 26, 2025 — The National Football League today announced a multiyear commitment to play a minimum of three regular season games over five years in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil beginning in 2026, as the NFL prioritizes global expansion and takes its international games to new cities around the world.
With more than 36 million NFL fans across the country, the league will again return to Brazil in 2026 to play its first regular season game in Rio at Maracanã Stadium.
"Building on the success of the games in São Paulo, we could not be more excited to play in one of the world's most iconic cities — Rio de Janeiro," said NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell. "We look forward to working closely with our city and state partners in Rio along with the historic Maracanã Stadium to deepen our ties to the tens of millions of fans in Brazil and across South America."
"The National Football League's multiyear partnership with Rio, a vibrant city where people want to be, is a perfect match," said Mayor of Rio de Janeiro Eduardo Paes. "It will be a historic event, as NFL games will be included on our city's official calendar. I'm looking forward to seeing an American football game at Maracanã, the most iconic temple of world football."
"We are delighted to announce that Maracanã Stadium will host a regular-season NFL game next year in Rio de Janeiro," said Governor of the State of Rio de Janeiro Cláudio Castro. "Brazil is now the second-largest consumer of American football outside the United States, and thousands of tourists and sports fans have dreamed of experiencing this event at the world's most famous stadium. Bringing the NFL to Rio is a milestone that will boost tourism, create jobs, stimulate the economy, and show the strength of our state as an international sports destination."
The NFL has played two games in Brazil (2024: Packers-Eagles; 2025: Chiefs-Chargers) in São Paulo at Corinthians Arena and will now expand its presence across the country to Rio.
Most recently, the 2025 NFL São Paulo game drew a crowd of 47,627 fans at Corinthians Arena on Sept. 5 during the league's 2025 Kickoff Weekend. The Los Angeles Chargers defeated the Kansas City Chiefs 27-21.
In addition to regular season games, the NFL is committed to growing the game at every level in Brazil engaging with fans year-round through partners, programs and initiatives, including NFL Flag and community events.
Fifty-six regular season NFL games have been played internationally throughout the league's history, with Frankfurt, London, Mexico City, Munich, São Paulo and Toronto hosting games to date. As part of the 2025 International Games and following the game in São Paulo, Dublin, London, Berlin and Madrid are set to host games in the coming weeks.
In 2026, Melbourne, Australia will also stage a game for the first time at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) in the league's inaugural regular-season game on the continent.
For news about the 2026 NFL Rio game and to sign up for ticket information, visit nfl.com/RioGame2026ROI.
Playing teams, along with game date and kickoff time, will be announced at a later date.
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About the NFL in Brazil
International growth is a key strategic priority for the NFL and its 32 clubs. As the league continues to expand into new markets, Brazil holds the NFL's second highest international fan base, home to more than 36 million fans and an official NFL office based in São Paulo – showcasing an ongoing commitment to the market.
Brazil hosts extensive NFL Flag programming, the NFL's owned and operated flag football program, allowing young athletes in schools across São Paulo and Rio to compete with peers across the 12U, 14U and 15U age groups and to travel to NFL Flag tournaments in the U.S. and beyond.
Through the NFL's Global Markets Program, the Detroit Lions, Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots and Philadelphia Eagles hold marketing rights in Brazil, supporting a range of media and brand partnerships that continue to build the league's presence and fanbase across the region.
With the addition of the 2026 NFL Rio game, Brazil will have hosted three regular-season NFL games (2024: São Paulo, 2025: São Paulo; 2026: Rio).
