The NFL announced one of the teams for the second-ever regular season game in Brazil. The Week 1 contest will see the AFC’s Los Angeles Chargers take the field at Corinthians Arena in São Paulo, the same venue that hosted the 2024 NFL season opener between the Philadelphia Eagles and Green Bay Packers.
NFL Pegs Los Angeles Chargers To Host in Brazil in 2025
With the NFL aiming to better engage international audiences with more high-profile teams, the Chargers certainly fit the bill. In head coach Jim Harbaugh’s first season in Los Angeles, the team turned around a 5-12 record in 2023 and finished 11-6 this oast season.
Harbaugh’s Chargers appeared to be poised for a deep run in the 2024 playoffs, but the hype train came to a screeching halt against the No. 4-seeded Houston Texans on Wild Card Weekend. An all-time poor performance from Justin Herbert, combined with breakdowns in big spots from the league’s leading scoring defense, led to a surprising blowout loss.
For the Chargers, the redemption tour will kick off in Brazil, a country that lays claim to the second-largest international NFL fan base behind Mexico. NFL Brazil general manager Luis Martinez expressed his excitement about hosting another international game:
“After a successful and memorable first game in Brazil in 2024, we are delighted to confirm the league’s return to São Paulo with the Los Angeles Chargers as the designated team in what will be an incredible next chapter in the market.”
The 2024 Week 1 game between two NFC playoff contenders garnered 12.4 million engagements on Instagram in two days, proving Brazil’s appetite for football extends beyond soccer. The nation’s ban on X certainly attributed to the traction on Instagram.
Corinthians Arena isn’t a stranger to the global stage. The venue hosted a 2014 World Cup and matches during the 2016 Olympics. Even with that impressive résumé, the NFL’s first game wasn’t without its detractors, namely the subpar field conditions that had players unable to keep their feet. There are reports the NFL is considering future games in Rio de Janeiro.
Which team will square off against the Chargers in São Paulo?
Because the Chargers have been designated as the home team, it’s safe to eliminate their non-divisional away opponents. The Chargers’ 2025 home opponents include the Denver Broncos, Kansas City Chiefs, Las Vegas Raiders, Texans, Indianapolis Colts, Eagles, Washington Commanders, Pittsburgh Steelers, and Minnesota Vikings.
Two of those opponents have already been designated for international games: The Steelers in Dublin, Ireland, and the Colts in Berlin, Germany.
One would think those squads wouldn’t have to endure a second clash outside the United States in the same season. However, the Jacksonville Jaguars played two in 2023 — one at Wembley Stadium against the Atlanta Falcons and the following week at Tottenham Stadium against the Buffalo Bills.
After winning the Super Bowl, the Eagles are set to kick off the 2025 season at home on Thursday night of Week 1. With that in mind, they can be scratched as a potential opponent for the Chargers in Brazil.
A divisional faceoff with Denver or Kansas City would get the blood pumping, but does the world have Chiefs fatigue? Are the Broncos for real? If the Raiders draft Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders, would his prime-time pedigree pay off in the ratings?
The Commanders would be an interesting pick, given Washington’s return to relevancy. A meeting would be a showcase of two teams on the rise. And with so much ambiguity around the quarterback situation in Minnesota, the probability of the Vikings getting the nod seems low.
A 2024 AFC Wild Card rematch against the Texans could be the most intriguing. Avenging that embarrassing loss could get the Harbaugh hype train back on track.
The 2024 game was a huge boost for the local economy, creating thousands of jobs in São Paulo. Despite complaints from players, the 2024 game was deemed a success. Based on the nation’s buzz and reception, the NFL hopes to host up to two annual games in Brazil.