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The NFL announced on Friday that the league will continue its international series in a familiar country, but in a new city. Rio de Janeiro will host its first NFL game in 2026 as part of a new multiyear deal with the NFL, where the city will host a minimum of three regular-season games over five years. The first of this series of games will take place 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.”
This will be the NFL's third game in Brazil with the first coming last season when Green Bay and Philadelphia squared off in São Paulo. The Chiefs and Chargers opened up their 2025 campaigns by playing the second game in São Paulo, Brazil earlier this season in front of over 47,000 fans.
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The NFL has expanded its global footprint having played 56 regular season games internationally to date. Those locations include London, England, Mexico City, Mexico, Frankfurt, Germany, Dublin, Ireland and Toronto, Canada. Berlin is set to hold its first NFL regular season game later this season on Nov. 9, between the Indianapolis Colts and Atlanta Falcons. Madrid, Spain will also host its first regular season NFL game on Nov. 16, with the Miami Dolphins and Washington Commanders facing off.
“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.”
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Melbourne, Australia will also host its first ever NFL regular season game next season at Melbourne Cricket Ground with the Los Angeles Rams being the designated team.
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