NFL São Paulo 2027: the city that opened South America to the NFL

NFL São Paulo 2027: where the city stands

The honest answer is: nothing is scheduled. After two sell-out Friday nights in Itaquera, the NFL moved its Brazilian game to Rio in 2026, backed by an agreement for at least three regular-season games at the Maracanã over five years. That deal is specific to Rio. There is no published agreement covering São Paulo in 2027 or beyond.

That does not rule the city out. From 2027 the league can stage up to 10 international games, a ceiling approved by the owners on 19 May 2026, and clubs can no longer protect their home games from being sent abroad. More slots means more candidates. But until the NFL says so, a São Paulo game in 2027 remains to be confirmed.

Host cities usually emerge around Super Bowl week in February, and matchups follow with the schedule release in May. Our NFL Brazil hub follows both cities, and the International Series 2027 page tracks the full list.

The two São Paulo NFL games so far

The 2024 game was a landmark: the first NFL match in South America, played on the Friday night of week one and streamed in the US on Peacock, with 47,236 inside the stadium. A year later the Chargers beat the Chiefs in front of 47,627, the venue's best NFL crowd. Both were close, high-scoring games, which did no harm to the sport's reputation in a country where the NFL estimates more than 36 million fans.

Getting to São Paulo's NFL stadium, Neo Química Arena

Better known locally as Arena Corinthians, the stadium sits in Itaquera, in the east of the city, a long way from the hotel districts of Paulista or Pinheiros. Rail is the way to do it:

• Metro Line 3 (Red): run straight to Corinthians-Itaquera station.
• CPTM Line 11 (Coral): the suburban train stops at the same Corinthians-Itaquera interchange.

Allow plenty of time. São Paulo traffic on a Friday evening is notorious, and a car across the city at rush hour can take longer than the game itself. After the final whistle the station gets busy, so patience pays.

How NFL tickets worked in São Paulo

Both São Paulo games were sold through Ticketmaster Brasil, starting with a presale for holders of partner cards and then a general sale. Demand was far higher than a 47,000-seat stadium could absorb, so preparation mattered.

• Create your Ticketmaster Brasil account in advance and keep your details up to date.
• Watch for the partner-card presale: in Brazil it has typically come before the general sale.
• Register your interest on the NFL's international games page if a São Paulo page reappears.

Prices for any future São Paulo game are to be confirmed. Resale platforms exist, but tickets are typically mobile and linked to an account, and listings can far exceed face value. Stick to official channels when you can, and switch on our alert to hear first.

Planning NFL São Paulo without a date

If São Paulo does return, history suggests an early-season slot: both games so far were played in the first week of September, on a Friday night. That is a pattern, not a promise. The safest approach is to keep September in mind, book refundable accommodation only once something is announced, and look at the template's recorded prices from previous games to set a rough budget.

For a Brazilian NFL trip that is more likely to happen in the next few seasons, the Rio de Janeiro page covers the Maracanã agreement in detail.

Travelling to São Paulo from abroad for the NFL

São Paulo is the main long-haul gateway to Brazil, with direct flights from Europe and North America into Guarulhos airport. In September the city is one hour ahead of New York and four hours behind London, so jet lag is mild for Americans and manageable for Britons; Australians face the longest trip and usually route through another hub.

Check visa and entry rules for your passport well before travelling, as they change from time to time. This site is an independent guide and is not affiliated with the NFL. For the wider calendar, including the playoffs and the Super Bowl in February 2027, start from our NFL 2027 hub.