The National Football League (NFL) has announced a multiyear agreement that will bring at least three regular season games over a period of five years to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, starting in 2026. This expansion forms part of the NFL’s global growth strategy and its push to bring its international games to new audiences worldwide.
With more than 36 million NFL fans across Brazil, according to the NFL, the league will make its first regular season appearance in Rio at the iconic Maracanã Stadium. The NFL has played two games in Brazil, both in São Paulo, in 2024 and 2025.
“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 deepen our ties to the tens of millions of fans in Brazil and across South America.”
“Brazil is now the second-largest consumer of American football outside the United States, and thousands of tourists and sports fans have dreamed of experiencing this event at the world’s most famous stadium” said Governor of the State of Rio de Janeiro, Cláudio Castro. “Bringing the NFL to Rio is a milestone that will boost tourism, create jobs, stimulate the economy and show the strength of our state as an international sports destination.”
In another move to expand its global reach, the NFL will stage its first-ever regular season game in Australia in 2026, at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). The Los Angeles Rams are the designated team for that game.
Throughout the league’s history, regular season international games have been played in London, Mexico City, Munich, São Paulo, Toronto, Dublin and Frankfurt, with Berlin and Madrid set to host additional games later this year.
See the full 2025 international NFL games schedule here.
To sign up to receive ticket information for the 2026 NFL Rio game, visit nfl.com/RioGame2026ROI.