NFL Brazil 2027: what the Rio deal means for next season

Three NFL games in Brazil, two cities

The NFL arrived in South America on a Friday night in September 2024, opening the season in São Paulo. A year later it went back to the same stadium, then moved to Rio for 2026.

The crowds were 47,236 for the first São Paulo game and 47,627 for the second. Rio took the numbers up a level: 72,792 watched Tyler Loop win it for Baltimore with a 56-yard field goal at the buzzer, in a game Dallas hosted as the designated home team.

The Rio agreement and the NFL Brazil 2027 question

The key document is the deal between the NFL and the Rio de Janeiro state government: at least three regular-season games at the Maracanã over five years, starting in 2026. One has now been played. The years of the other two have not been published, so a 2027 game in Rio is possible but to be confirmed.

São Paulo has no game announced after 2025, and Brazil's NFL future now runs through the Rio agreement. The league says it has more than 36 million fans in the country, and the wider framework is favourable: up to 10 international games are approved for 2027. Brazil will compete with London, Berlin, Mexico City and others on the International Series 2027 list. Recent years suggest host cities are named around Super Bowl week in February and matchups in May.

Brazil's two NFL stadiums

The Maracanã needs little introduction: it staged the 2014 World Cup final, and the NFL cites a capacity of 78,838. It is easy to reach by public transport:

• Metro Line 2 to Maracanã station
• SuperVia train to Maracanã
• Metro Lines 1 and 2 to São Cristóvão, about 10 minutes on foot

São Paulo's Neo Química Arena, home of Corinthians, sits in Itaquera in the east of the city. Metro Line 3 (Red) and CPTM Line 11 (Coral) both stop at Corinthians-Itaquera.

How Brazil sells NFL tickets

Brazil does not use the European NFL account system. Sales run through Ticketmaster Brasil, with a presale for partner card holders first and a general sale afterwards. For the 2026 Rio game the American Express and XP presale ran from 27 to 31 May, the general sale opened on 9 June at 10:00, and an official box office at the Estádio Nilton Santos sold without fees. Half-price meia-entrada tickets were also offered to eligible buyers under Brazilian rules.

Have your account ready before the general sale opens, because the best-value seats tend to go first and the sale moves quickly once it starts. Resale sites exist, but tickets are often personal and checked at entry, so buy through the official channel wherever possible.

Travelling to Brazil for an NFL game

For fans flying from the US or the UK, the sensible plan is to wait for the official announcement before booking anything non-refundable, since no 2027 date exists yet. Previous Brazil games were played early in the season, in week 1 or week 3, so a September trip is the likeliest scenario if Rio is chosen, though that is not confirmed. Rio's September weather is generally mild, and staying near the Zona Norte metro lines makes the Maracanã a short, simple ride on game day.

2027 is also a big football year in Brazil: the FIFA Women's World Cup runs from 24 June to 25 July 2027, with the Maracanã hosting both the opening match and the final. That is a separate event in a different season, but worth knowing if you are planning more than one trip.

Preparing now for NFL Brazil 2027

Keep it simple: create a Ticketmaster Brasil account in advance, check whether any card you hold qualifies for a partner presale, and register interest on nfl.com once a Brazil game is announced. This site is an independent guide, not affiliated with the NFL. Activate the alert and we will tell you the moment Brazil's 2027 status changes. For the season itself, including Super Bowl LXI, see our NFL 2027 guide.