Overview

• The NFL and the city of Rio de Janeiro announced an agreement for at least three regular-season games at the Maracanã over the next five years.
• Maracanã will host its first NFL game in 2026, with participating teams and the specific date to be announced.
• Commissioner Roger Goodell and Mayor Eduardo Paes endorsed the partnership, following city-led outreach that included a delegation to the United States.
• The Rio plan builds on the league’s recent São Paulo games in 2024 and 2025, each drawing crowds above 47,000.
• The league cites 36 million Brazilian fans and is broadening its international footprint, adding new European hosts in 2025 and Melbourne in 2026.