In recent years, the NFL has been sending select games internationally. This has been done in an attempt to internationalize the sport of American football, and specifically the NFL.
Just a month ago, it was suggested by NFL executive vice president Peter O’Reilly that the league wants to continue to expand its international games.
In 2024, an NFL game might take place in Brazil.
Could the 2024 Season Opener Be in Brazil?
Since 1926, 50 regular season NFL games have been played outside the U.S. This includes four different cities. Those cities are Toronto, Mexico City, London, and most recently, Frankfurt.
With so many games being taken international, the NFL could be adding a new country, Brazil. It was reported by ESPN’s John Sutcliffe that the league wants to host a game in São Paulo in 2024. According to O’Reilly, the NFL could also be looking at Spain.
MORE: Why Does the NFL Play in Germany?
“Germany is a unique market with the history of NFL Europe and how strong the American football legacy is there, but the reason we’re looking at Brazil and Spain is based on the size of the fanbases there,” O’Reilly said when talking about the NFL in Germany.
In 2023, NFL games were played in Germany for the first time, with two games taking place in Frankfurt. The Kansas City Chiefs, Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots and Indianapolis Colts were the four teams to travel. The Chiefs and Colts left as winners in Weeks 9 and 10, respectively.
Dolphins 2024 opener in Brazil a possibility, according to ESPN Deportes’ John Sutcliffe.pic.twitter.com/oWuFGSrqLj
— David Furones (@DavidFurones_) December 5, 2023
“The NFL is analyzing the possibility of playing a regular season game in South America next season, 2024,” Sutcliffe said. He also mentioned that the trip to South America could take place as soon as Week 1. “The NFL would like to play it on Week 1. Just the logistics, the TV trucks, everything would be better in Week 1, so September 2024.”
One of the teams that could appear in the game is the Miami Dolphins. According to Sutcliffe, the only team with the rights to market themselves in Brazil is the Dolphins. “So, I expect, in São Paulo, Brazil, Week 1, Miami playing a regular season game,” Sutcliffe said.
The NFL has sent most of its international games to London, with 38 regular season games going there. Six games went to Toronto as a part of a series with the Buffalo Bills, and Mexico City and Frankfurt have had four and two, respectively, as a part of the NFL International Series. Tokyo has, however, hosted 13 preseason games.
The Jacksonville Jaguars have participated in the most international games, traveling to London 11 times. In those 11 games, they hold a 6-5 record. The Dolphins trip to Frankfurt was its sixth international game. They have traveled to London five times, most recently losing to the Jaguars in 2021.
The NFL announced its 2023 international games on May 10, 2023. Knowing that, it could be until May before information is known on if there will officially be a 2024 game in Brazil.
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