The NFL Is Rounding Out Its International Schedule After Announcing LA Chargers as Host of 2025 NFL Brazil Game

Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert (No. 10) looks for an open receiver during a game against the Carolina Panthers during the second half at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, N.C., on Sept. 15, 2024. Jim Dedmon-Imagn Images

Seven international games down, one to go. That’s where things stand for the 2025 NFL season with the latest announcement of who will be playing on foreign soil next year. The Los Angeles Chargers were announced as hosts for the NFL’s second-ever trip to Brazil, making them the seventh team announced to host an international contest next season.

The Chargers will host the 2025 NFL Brazil Game in Week 1, with the matchup occurring on the Friday after the league’s kickoff game on Thursday. Last year’s NFL Brazil Game—in which the eventual Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles defeated the Green Bay Packers 34–29—also took place on a Friday. The league will return to Corinthians Arena in São Paulo, with the Chargers’ opponent to be revealed at a later date.

“After a successful and memorable first game in Brazil in 2024, we are delighted to confirm the league’s return to São Paulo with the Los Angeles Chargers as the designated team in what will be an incredible next chapter in the market,” NFL Brazil General Manager Luis Martinez said. “Alongside our partners—SPTuris, Mayor Nunes, and the Corinthians—we will continue to make history together and look forward to delivering an unforgettable experience for passionate fans of the game once again in Brazil.”

It’s a win-win for both the NFL and Brazil, as the former gets to continue to expand its international footprint in a region that has among the most passionate NFL fans outside of the United States. Per the NFL, Brazil has more than 36 million fans of the game, which trails only Mexico among all foreign countries.

As for Brazil, it gets to showcase its culture to the mainly American audience that will be tuning into the game. And of course, there is a major financial impact; São Paulo Mayor Ricardo Nunes stated that last year’s Eagles–Packers game returned $60 million while also providing numerous employment opportunities.

This will be the fourth regular-season international game for the Chargers, who played two previously in London (2008 and 2018) and one game in Mexico (2019). Even though the franchise has gone 1–2 on foreign soil, it is excited about the opportunity to once again be on a global stage.

“It’s an honor to once again represent the NFL on an international stage,” Chargers President of Business Operations A.G. Spanos said. “It’s also a tremendous opportunity to help grow the game and bring the Chargers brand to millions of sports fans across Brazil and Latin America. One of the great countries of the world, Brazil is as vibrant, dynamic and culturally diverse as anywhere on the planet, and we cannot wait to experience the warmth and passion of its people during our visit.”

In addition to three prior trips outside of the United States for regular season contests, the Chargers have also played four preseason games in other countries. In fact, they were part of the first-ever NFL game outside of North America when they faced the then-St. Louis Cardinals in Tokyo, in a 1976 preseason game. They also had preseason contests in Berlin in 1994 and returned to Tokyo for an exhibition in 1996.

The announcement of the Chargers heading to Brazil means seven of the eight allowable international games this season have been announced. The Cleveland Browns, New York Jets, and Jacksonville Jaguars will all host games in London, while the Indianapolis Colts are the designated home team for a contest in Berlin.

Additionally, the first-ever NFL Madrid Game in Spain will see the Miami Dolphins as the home team in 2025, while the league will also venture to Ireland for the first time. The Pittsburgh Steelers, who are owned by the Irish-American Rooney family, will host the first-ever NFL Dublin Game in Ireland this upcoming season.

None of the opponents for the seven announced international contests have been revealed yet, but one can do a process of elimination to determine who the possible opponent for the Chargers will be in Brazil. The Chargers will have nine home games next season—eight in Los Angeles and this one in Brazil. The NFL has steered away from divisional games for international contests, as each of the past 16 such contests have been nondivisional matchups.

Thus, one could assume the Chargers’ AFC West rivals—the Chiefs, Raiders, and Broncos—won’t also be heading south to São Paulo. Two of LA’s other home opponents, in the Colts (Berlin) and Steelers (Dublin), already have international games, so they’re out as well. Meanwhile, another in the Eagles just played in Brazil a year ago, so one wouldn’t expect them to have back-to-back visits, while another home opponent in the Vikings just hosted a London game in 2024.

That leaves just two opponents available: the Houston Texans and Washington Commanders. Seeing as no team has played fewer international games than the Washington franchise—which has competed in just one—it may be the favorite to join the Chargers in São Paulo.