Roger Goodell made his stance clear during the NFL’s return to Brazil, hinting at what could come next for the league on the international stage
17:07 ET, 06 Sep 2025Updated 21:40 ET, 06 Sep 2025
Roger Goodell became the NFL Commissioner in September 2006(Image: Getty)
As the Kansas City Chiefs and Los Angeles Chargers kicked off in São Paulo last night, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell left little doubt about the league’s intentions in Brazil.
At the second-ever regular-season game in the country, Goodell, still dealing with Donald Trump trying to bully the Washington Commanders into a name change, spoke about the league’s long-term vision and even hinted that more cities could soon be added to the mix.
“We’ll be back,” Goodell said. “We think this is a great market with a lot of potential. There’s been a lot of discussion about Rio.” The game was ripe with drama, as Travis Kelce headbutted his own teammate before taking a brutal slap to the face.
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He went further, adding: “We will be here (São Paulo) over the long term. But Rio is obviously a place we have some interest in playing at some point, too. We are never going to leave Brazil. This is something we are going to continue playing in.”
The game itself served as another reminder of why Brazil has quickly become a key market for the NFL. More than 47,000 fans packed into Neo Química Arena, creating a vibrant backdrop that mixed American football with Brazilian flair.
This was the league’s second regular-season game in South America, following last year’s matchup between the Eagles and Packers. The NFL clearly sees this as more than an experiment — it’s the start of something bigger.
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Goodell’s confidence lines up with the league’s broader international push. Speaking to NFL GameDay Kickoff, he noted, “We expect to return to Brazil. We will certainly be back in the U.K., and we’re also looking at the potential of another game in the U.K. area in Ireland, possibly.”
Brazil isn’t the only place on the league’s radar. Germany, which hosted in Munich before expanding to Frankfurt, is often cited as a model for how to grow gradually in a new market.
Goodell has suggested that Rio de Janeiro could follow that same blueprint, giving Brazil multiple host cities in the coming years.
The global push is already well underway. This season features a record seven international games in places like Berlin, Dublin, and Madrid, part of a deliberate strategy to make the NFL a worldwide brand.
The Chargers defeated the Chiefs 27-21 in last night’s matchup(Image: Getty)
The league has also invested in improving conditions abroad. After complaints from players in 2024 about field quality in São Paulo, the NFL spent heavily to upgrade Neo Química Arena ahead of this year’s return. That investment was widely seen as proof the league is serious about making Brazil a long-term stop.
Looking further ahead, Goodell has floated even bigger changes. Among them: expanding the schedule to 18 games, with as many as 16 potentially staged outside the United States. If that idea gains traction, Brazil, and possibly Rio, could become a regular part of the calendar rather than an occasional spectacle.
For now, the commissioner’s words were clear: Brazil isn’t just a destination, it’s part of the NFL’s future.