Brazil might seem like the best country to be in during the summer – the beaches, surfing, sports, and vibes. However, tell that to the pigskin fanatics who are just not buying it. Not only that, but they are calling out to boycott Brazil ahead of the Packers–Eagles clash! Are they to blame? Each passing day unveils new hurdles, holding this season’s NFL International Series, and it’s not a good look. Further, these ‘obstacles’ might only be putting the popular ‘Brazil’ notion to bed. And now, the country is in a ‘battle’ with Elon Musk.

A series that was started to promote the rich culture of football around the globe is under threat down in the South. Multiple factors and theories have come up. But three controversies have caught the eye not only of the fans but of the players as well. The latest one is the X ban. Yes! You read that right. One of the most popular social media websites in this part of the world is not really up and running anymore in the entire country. What has irked the football fans to call it controversial is that the decision came just a week before the scheduled Packers and Eagles game.

Let’s just say, Brazil vs Elon Musk does not bother the fans as much as the absence of X does. To answer the question, it does not really affect the broadcast of the game, it would go on. But the general media circulation, minute-to-minute updates, and most important of all the banters would be a big miss. And that’s what the fans are calling out.

But you may be wondering: why such a decision? Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes ordered a nationwide ban on X after Elon Musk refused to suspend certain accounts, sparking a legal clash. Musk fired back, calling the move an attack on free speech by an “unelected pseudo-judge” acting for political purposes. But it hardly changed the reality, which is that the ban still persists. And now, the situation’s worsened. Anyone using a VPN to access X could face fines of nearly $9,000 per day. How long before we see a tweet from Elon challenging the justice for a match inside the cage?

Sarcasm aside, it does pose a lot of questions. NBC Sports’ Mike Florio perfectly sums it up: “The inability of fans and media to use X before, during, or after the contest will greatly impact the manner in which real-time commentary, news, images, and video can be disseminated to the United States, and elsewhere.” 

However, this is one of the 3 controversies that’s surrounding the São Paulo game. Wondering what the other two are? Keep reading to find out!

NO GREEN, security concerns, poor air quality, what’s next?

While Elon Musk navigates the X drama in Brazil, the NFL’s got its own playbook to sort out. The reason, you ask? RB Josh Jacobs stirred the pot in June, hinting that neither the Packers nor Eagles could sport green due to gang issues. “Something to do with gangs…” he said on Green Light with Chris Long. But hold up—he got that wrong. The real deal? A matter of passion. See, the thing is Arena Corinthians is the home stadium of the Brazilian Soccer Club, Corinthians whose arch-rivals are Palmeiras. Yup! You guessed it right (if you did). Their rivals’ colors are green, hence the ban on the color. As football fans, we get the pride and rivalry—so do the Eagles. Philly has already announced that it’d be NO GREEN for them! Their specially designed kit is all white with only numbers in green.

The Packers are rolling in with their classic Dark Green and Gold jerseys. Sure, green is usually a no-go due to rivalry, but Tim Schlittner confirmed in June that no color bans will apply for the Eagles-Packers game. So, hats off to the Eagles for showing respect—they’re definitely scoring some local brownie points!

Coming to the third and final controversy surrounding the Brazil game. We have to say that this one highlights a ‘major’ security concern. And the Eagle receiver AJ Brown’s not-so-enthusiastic response could be enough to tell the seriousness of it. “We had a meeting yesterday, and there were a whole bunch of ‘Don’t Do’s.’ So I’m just trying to go down there and win a football game, and come back home… But after hearing all this stuff, I’m probably going to be in my room.” The crime stats are enough to make anyone feel like they’re running a gauntlet. São Paulo saw a robbery every five minutes last year and a theft every two and a half. So, what’s with all the ‘Do’s and ‘Don’t’s? They’re prepping for a high-stakes game of cat and mouse.

And then there’s the air quality—talk about a rough game day environment. With wildfires blazing through Brazil’s Amazon, the air is like a bad second half. Reports say: “Smoke was causing people in the region to cough, burning their throats and reddening their eyes.” This isn’t just a minor hiccup; it’s a full-on injury report. Football’s physicality mixed with smoky conditions isn’t a winning combo, not just for players but fans too. Why, you ask? Because the wildfires have spiked cases of pneumonia, rhinitis, and asthma. It’s a game you’d rather sit out. Environment Minister Marina Silva nailed it: “Brazil is at war against fire and crime.” Now, isn’t that a headline that’s hard to ignore?

Hopefully, the game goes on without any hindrance. ‘A smooth week 1 in Brazil would be a win for the NFL’s International Series, as it aims to make inroads where ‘futbol’ reigns supreme over football. Not only that, the NFL wants Brazil to set the tone as it has set its sights on England and Germany next. Both of these countries have a great repertoire with the league.