Some of the players for the Philadelphia Eagles and Green Bay Packers are not exactly looking forward to playing their regular-season opener and first-ever NFL game in Brazil because of safety concerns. Brazilian authorities are beefing up security ahead of the game.
Even though the NFL has boosted security for the event, there are still more precautions with the players venturing away from the team hotel or practice field. Gun violence and crime rates in Brazil are among the highest in Latin America.
“Our policing will be beefed up during the week to secure the public’s safety for this historic match, with officers on the streets and avenues around the stadium, in public transportation, in the hotels, and in tourist areas of the city,” Brazil’s security secretariat said in a statement on Wednesday.
“To guarantee the safety of the players, the military police will enforce the number of personnel upon arrival of the delegates at the Guarulhos Airport and escort the teams to their hotels, training sites, and the stadium,” Sao Paulo officials said in a statement.
U.S. authorities are working closely with Brazil on security operations, with helicopters and drones surveying the landscape, the security secretariat said. In addition, trained dogs will canvas the stadium before the game to detect potentially explosive devices.
Eagles cornerback Darius Slay Jr. was concerned about Brazil’s crime rate.
Slay said later he regretted those comments, posting on X: “I want to apologize to anyone I offended. That wasn’t my intention. I’m looking forward to playing in your beautiful country and I’ve heard y'all are very passionate, just like our amazing Eagles fans.”
Other players are enthused about the upcoming game in Brazil.
The game is scheduled for Friday, at Sao Paulo’s NeoQuimica Arena, home to the Brazilian soccer team SC Corinthians. The arena has hosted numerous other sporting events, including six matches during the 2014 FIFA Men’s World Cup.
It’s also the first time the NFL has played a game on Friday night of Week 1 since the Cardinals and Rams played on Sept. 18, 1970.
The NFL is trying to grow the game internationally. The league has played games in London, Mexico City, Toronto, Munich, and Frankfurt. Tokyo has been home to the most international NFL preseason games at 13. Games are scheduled for Madrid in 2025.
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell looks forward to tapping into the vast South American market.
“This landmark first international game in South America demonstrates the ongoing expansion of our global footprint,” Goodell said in a statement. “Playing on Friday night of Week 1 is a unique way to highlight our international growth and ambitions.”
Despite the security concerns, fans from both teams are expected to travel to the game. Brazil is still an attractive tourist destination because of its world-famous beaches and climate.
The Brazilian government is also proud to host the game, which could boost the local economy. The country has recently been in the news over its Supreme Court decision to block social-media site X in the country.
Nonetheless, Brazil wants to show the rest of the world that it can host high-profile events and is safe for travel.
“The league’s decision to play the game in the first week of the NFL 2024 season is a true testament to their confidence in our work as host city,” Ricardo Nunes, mayor of Sao Paulo, said in a statement.
“Having this historic spectacle on the eve of Independence Day and driving a great economic impact and job creation for Sao Paulo, will spotlight our city as a globally relevant destination for the world’s most exciting sport and entertainment events.”
