NFL heading back to Neo Química Arena

The National Football League (NFL) has upped its international game inventory for the 2025 season to seven by confirming a return to Neo Química Arena, the home of Campeonato Brasileiro Série A football club Corinthians.

As part of the 2025 International Games, the Los Angeles Chargers will play as the designated team in São Paulo on Friday night of the opening week of the 2025 regular season.

The NFL made history on September 6 last year as Neo Química Arena hosted the League’s first-ever game in South America. A sold-out crowd of 47,236 watched on as the Philadelphia Eagles beat the Green Bay Packers 34-29.

Neo Química Arena, also known as Corinthians Arena, was used during the 2014 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 Olympic Games. The NFL announced plans for its landmark first regular season game in Brazil back in December 2023 and today’s (Wednesday’s) announcement comes shortly after it was declared Neo Química Arena will have its capacity increased to 48,905 for the 2025 season.

Brazil is an important global market for the NFL, with the League stating its more than 36 million fans makes it the second largest international fan base after Mexico. “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,” said NFL Brazil general manager, Luis Martinez.

“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.”

São Paulo Mayor, Ricardo Nunes, added: “The NFL’s return in 2025 demonstrates how prepared São Paulo is for major events and tourists from around the world. With the expansion of our entertainment calendar, we are generating thousands of direct and indirect jobs with each event.

“Last year, with a single match, we had an economic return of US$60m (£47.7m/€57.5m) and the expectation is to expand even further this year. Not to mention the exponential gain for sectors that serve the visiting public, such as hotels, taxi drivers, app drivers and the entire hospitality sector.”

The Chargers’ opponent, along with kickoff time for the game on September 5, will be announced when the full 2025 NFL schedule is revealed this spring. Fifty-five regular season NFL games have been played around the world throughout the League’s history, with London, Munich, Frankfurt, São Paulo, Mexico City and Toronto all hosting games to date.

The Chargers have played in three regular season games internationally, including London (two) and Mexico City (one). The path to enhancing the International Games calendar was set in December 2023, when NFL team owners voted to permit an increase in league-operated inventory from a minimum of four up to a maximum of eight games a season, beginning in 2025.

The NFL this month continued its run of international game announcements by declaring that Croke Park will stage the first regular season fixture in Dublin, Ireland. The Pittsburgh Steelers will be the designated, or ‘home’ team, for this fixture.

In December, the NFL confirmed it would play its first-ever regular season game in Berlin during the 2025 season, with the Olympiastadion set to stage the inaugural event under a multi-year contract.

For 2025, the NFL has also confirmed two regular season games at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, featuring the Jets and the Cleveland Browns as designated teams. The Jacksonville Jaguars will also return to London as Wembley Stadium last month locked down a one-year extension to its contract.

Along with the Berlin fixture, with the Indianapolis Colts as the designated team, the NFL will also head to Madrid, Spain for the first time, with the Miami Dolphins set to feature at Estadio Santiago Bernabéu, home of Real Madrid.

The NFL also announced plans this month for a first regular-season game in Australia. Melbourne Cricket Ground will host the game in 2026 as part of a multi-year agreement between the NFL and the Victoria Government. The Los Angeles Rams will serve as the designated home team for next year’s game.