It seems like the Green Bay Packers will make history in September. The leagye is expected to announce this week which team will face the Philadelphia Eagles in week 1, in São Paulo, for the first ever NFL game in Brazil.
Based on Packers president Mark Murphy's comments on Tuesday, it's just a matter of time before Green Bay is the chosen franchise.
"We're either the first- or second-most popular team in Brazil," Murphy said Speaking before the annual Tailgate Tour. "Also, this is very important for the league. If we're chosen, we'll gladly go."
The game will be held in Neo Quimica Arena, a soccer stadium from Brazilian club Corinthians, in São Paulo. It will be on September 6, the Friday immediately after the kickoff. The extra two days are going to allow an easier return to the United States, giving the team enough time to rest and prepare before week 2.
According to Brazilian journalist Danilo Lacalle, the announcement of which team will face the Eagles is expected to take place on Wednesday, at 9am ET, at São Paulo City Hall.
The good and bad
The Packers initially were not appearing to be happy with the idea of playing abroad again, two years after a game in London that derailed their 2022 season. The circumstances are now different, though.
It's a week 1 game, so the Packers will have a bye week after the last preseason game to travel to Brazil. As the game will be on Friday, the group will have more than enough time to be back in Green Bay throughout the weekend, in time to have a full week of preparation before week 2.
Another advantage is the time zone. São Paulo is just two hours ahead of Central Time, so the jet lag wouldn't be as pronounced as it was with a six-hour difference from Green Bay to London.
The last difference is that the Packers will be the away team in São Paulo. That means Green Bay will have nine home games in 2024, seven away games, and a neutral game in Brazil. In 2022, the Packers were the home team in London, so they gave up a game in Lambeau Field.
According to NFL Brazil's recent surveys, the Green Bay Packers have the largest football fan base in the country, ahead of the New England Patriots.
The problem for the Packers is that flying directly from Green Bay to São Paulo is not logistically viable, because Green Bay's airport does not have the capacity to handle it. The Packers would probably have to travel by bus from Green Bay to Milwaukee, and then take a charter flight to Brazil.
If the Packers can't go, the alternative to face the Eagles would be the Cleveland Browns.
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