Hold on to your helmets, NFL fans—because the gridiron’s touching down in Brazil for the first time, and without a shadow’s doubt, it’s going to be epic! The Eagles and Packers are bringing the heat to São Paulo, marking a historic first as The Shield ventures south of Mexico. Wondering where all the action’s happening? 

Smack dab in the heart of São Paulo, the Corinthians Arena (Neo Química Arena) is Brazil’s latest sports gem. It opened in May 2014, during the FIFA World Cup. Even though it’s pretty new, built in just three years for about 1B R (around 182M USD), it’s already a global sensation.

With space for 47,252 fans, the Corinthians Arena might not be the biggest in Brazil, but it’s got game. It’s built to comfortably seat around 40,000-50,000, and it even crammed in 63,237 for the 2014 World Cup semifinals between Argentina and the Netherlands. The venue also showed off during the 2016 Rio Olympics and has been Corinthians’ proud home, scoring two league titles since opening.

The stadium’s saga began back in the late ’70s, when Corinthians first dreamed of a new home. It really took off in 2010, though, with construction starting on May 30, 2011. By May 10, 2014, the arena was game-ready, debuting with Brazil’s thrilling 3-1 win over Croatia.

As the NFL prepares to light up Brazil, fans can expect a top-tier experience at this cutting-edge venue. São Paulo’s upped the security game to ensure everything runs smoothly, making sure the game’s first Brazilian appearance is a legit touchdown.

Heightened security measures in São Paulo as NFL heads in Brazil 

São Paulo’s pulling out all the stops with heightened security ahead of the first-ever NFL game in South America. With Philadelphia set to face Green Bay at Corinthians Arena, fans are in for a historic showdown—and a heavily protected one at that.

The state government’s cranking up security after Eagles players voiced safety concerns about Brazil’s biggest city. São Paulo ain’t exactly known for being crime-free, and wide receiver AJ Brown wasn’t shy about it. “We had a meeting with a whole bunch of ‘Don’t Do’s’. So I’m just trying to go down there, win a football game, and come back home,” he shared.

Brown’s not the only one with reservations. Eagles CB Darius Slay also voiced his hesitation, referencing high crime rates and strict movement rules. “I do not want to go to Brazil. They already told us not to leave the hotel,” Slay alluded. He later took to social media to apologize for any offense, but the message was clear: safety is top priority.

In response, São Paulo’s stepping up. The state’s rolling out specialized civil and military police at key spots—train stations, hotels, and tourist sites. Military police will also beef up security at Guarulhos Airport and escort teams from their hotels to the field. And yes, the stadium’s getting a full security sweep before kickoff.

With everything in place, Friday night’s game will be the NFL’s first Week One matchup on a Friday evening since 1970. History in the making—on and off-field!