The Los Angeles Chargers have made history by becoming the first NFL team to play a game on five different continents, as they are set to kick off their 2025 season in Brazil, according to an announcement made on Wednesday.
The specific opponent for the Chargers in this international matchup will be revealed in May during the NFL’s regular-season schedule release.
The Chargers will play as the home team on Friday, September 5, at Neo Quimica Arena in São Paulo. This venue previously hosted a Week 1 showdown between the Philadelphia Eagles and Green Bay Packers last season, marking it as the first NFL game held in South America.
In their first year under the direction of head coach Jim Harbaugh, quarterback Justin Herbert led the Chargers to an 11-6 record in the 2024 season, although their playoff run ended with a 32-12 loss to the Houston Texans in the wild-card round.
“We are proud to once again represent the NFL on a global platform,” stated A.G. Spanos, the president of business operations for the Chargers. “This is a fantastic chance to expand our fanbase and to introduce the Chargers brand to millions of fans in Brazil and throughout Latin America.”
Since their inception in 1976, the Chargers have taken part in both regular-season and preseason games across various international locations including Mexico City, London, Tokyo, Berlin, and Sydney.
When it comes to their home games in the upcoming season, the Chargers are slated to face their AFC West rivals, the Denver Broncos, Kansas City Chiefs, and Las Vegas Raiders, in addition to matchups against the Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Commanders, Pittsburgh Steelers, and Minnesota Vikings.
Given that the Super Bowl champions typically start the following season with a home opener, it is unlikely that Philadelphia will make consecutive trips to South America. Furthermore, the Colts and Steelers have already been confirmed as hosts for their own international games.
In total, the NFL plans to feature seven regular-season games internationally during the 2025 season, which includes three contests in London. The Cleveland Browns and New York Jets will each serve as the home teams at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, while the Jacksonville Jaguars will make their annual appearance at Wembley Stadium.
Additionally, the Pittsburgh Steelers will host the league’s first regular-season game in Dublin, Ireland, with the Miami Dolphins designated as the home team for the matchup in Madrid, Spain. Berlin is set to host an NFL game for the first time, with the Indianapolis Colts acting as the home team.
The NFL has the capacity to arrange up to eight international matchups starting in the upcoming season, further emphasizing the league’s commitment to expanding its global presence.
