Earlier than the 2022 season, the Inexperienced Bay Packers have been the final NFL crew to play a world regular-season sport.
Now, two years after enjoying in London, they may play a second sport outdoors of the US. The NFL introduced Wednesday that the Packers would be the Philadelphia Eagles’ opponent for the first-ever sport in South America.
The sport can be performed in São Paulo, Brazil, on Friday, Sept. 6 — one night time after the standard season opener involving the defending Tremendous Bowl champions. It will likely be the primary time since 1970 that the NFL has performed a Friday night time sport in Week 1.
Going to Brazil in Week 1 to play the Philadelphia Eagles! 🏈#GoPackGo pic.twitter.com/jjG9135W9j
— Inexperienced Bay Packers (@packers) April 10, 2024
The Eagles had beforehand been introduced as the house crew for the Brazil sport, which can be performed on the Corinthians Enviornment, the house to Brazilian soccer membership SC Corinthians. The sector was used at each the 2014 World Cup and 2016 Olympics.
Packers president Mark Murphy had not too long ago expressed considerations concerning the logistics of the sport for his crew because it pertained to journey.
“We’re very supportive of worldwide play,” Murphy mentioned final month on the NFL annual conferences. “The one situation with Inexperienced Bay, although, is the scale of our airport and the scale of our runway, and we wish to ensure that we’re not at a aggressive drawback when it comes to how lengthy it is gonna take us to get to Brazil.
“There’s some thought that we would must bus to Milwaukee after which fly, simply a few of these issues.”
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The Packers have been in a position to fly to London out of Inexperienced Bay-Austin Straubel Worldwide Airport, however the flight to Brazil would require a bigger plane.
On the eve of the announcement, Murphy mentioned he was nonetheless “undecided precisely what we’ll must do to get to Brazil,” however added that the crew would “gladly go” if it have been chosen. Murphy mentioned it was right down to the Packers and Browns to face the Eagles in Brazil.
“I feel we’re both the first- or second-most well-liked crew in Brazil,” Murphy mentioned. “As we talked about, we’re form of the individuals’s crew. Individuals actually like the thought of a group owned crew, with our historical past and custom.
“This is essential for the league. The Packers are highly regarded in Brazil. If we’re chosen, we’ll gladly go.”
The Packers misplaced their solely earlier worldwide sport, to the New York Giants in London.
“We’re wanting ahead to being part of this historic matchup in opposition to the Eagles in São Paulo,” Murphy mentioned in a press release on Wednesday. “We’re excited to play in entrance of our devoted followers in Brazil and assist construct upon the worldwide recognition of the NFL and the Packers. We had an amazing expertise enjoying internationally for the primary time a few years in the past and we’re proud to be a part of the league’s continued world development.”
The NFL has beforehand introduced that Peacock (NBCUniversal) will solely stream the Week 1 sport in São Paulo. The sport may even be obtainable on free, over-the-air broadcast tv within the native markets of the competing groups in addition to on cellular units with NFL+.
“As world development continues to be a essential and strategic precedence for the NFL and its 32 golf equipment, we’re thrilled to have the Inexperienced Bay Packers enjoying in opposition to the Philadelphia Eagles in our first-ever sport in South America,” Gerrit Meier, managing director and head of NFL Worldwide, mentioned in a press release. “With over 35 million passionate followers in Brazil, the Friday night time 2024 common season opener in São Paulo will deliver an unimaginable power — marking a historic second for our sport internationally.”
The NFL will host 5 regular-season video games as a part of the 2024 worldwide collection. The Chicago Bears, Minnesota Vikings and Jacksonville Jaguars will all host video games in London whereas the Carolina Panthers will host a sport in Munich, Germany.
