NFL to Play Regular Season Game at Rio‘s Historic Maracanã Stadium in 2026
RIO DE JANEIRO,BRAZIL – The National Football League (NFL) announced today a groundbreaking agreement to host a regular season game at the legendary Maracanã Stadium in rio de Janeiro in 2026. This marks a major expansion of the NFL’s international strategy and a notable milestone for the sport’s growing popularity in South America.
The deal, finalized with Rio de Janeiro authorities, will see at least three regular season NFL games played in the city over the next five years. This builds upon the NFL’s successful foray into the Brazilian market, having already hosted two games in São Paulo.
The most recent of these games, held on september 5th, featured a compelling matchup between the Kansas City Chiefs, led by stars patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce, and the Los Angeles Chargers. The game drew an eager crowd of 47,627 fans, demonstrating a clear appetite for American football within Brazil.
“Building on the success of the games in São paulo, we couldn’t be more excited to play in one of the most iconic cities in the world: Rio de janeiro,” stated NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell in an official release. “We look forward to working closely with our city partners and the state of Rio, along with the historic Maracanã stadium, to deepen our connection with the dozens of millions of fans in Brazil and throughout South America.”
The NFL estimates that Brazil boasts approximately 36 million fans, making it the second-largest consumer of American football outside of the United States. The move to Rio’s Maracanã,a globally recognized sporting venue,is intended to capitalize on this burgeoning fanbase and attract international tourism.
“Brazil is now the second largest American football consumer outside the United States, and thousands of tourists and sports fans have dreamed of experiencing this event in the most famous stadium in the world,” added Cláudia Castro, Governor of the State of Rio de Janeiro.
The Maracanã stadium,with a capacity of around 74,000 spectators,is not only the largest stadium in Brazil but also a symbol of the nation’s rich sporting history. It serves as the home ground for both Flamengo and Fluminense, two of Brazil’s most popular football (soccer) clubs.Hosting an NFL game will add another chapter to the stadium’s storied legacy.
Source: Agence France-Presse (AFP)
