By Humberto Viera
05 Sep 2024, 13:43 PM EDT
The Green Bay Packers and Philadelphia Eagles will face off this Friday in São Paulo, Brazil, marking a milestone as this is the first NFL regular season game in South America.
The event has sparked a lot of interest in Brazil, where the NFL has been gaining popularity, especially after hosting games in places like London and Mexico City.
Both teams are already in town, with the Eagles training at Corinthians’ stadium, which is ready for the match and has sold out quickly. Meanwhile, the Packers will use the training camp of another Brazilian club.
However, the insecurity in Brazil has drawn criticism from some players. Eagles cornerback Darius Slay expressed reservations about playing in a country with high crime rates, saying on his podcast: “I wonder why the NFL wants to send us to a place where the crime rate is so high.”
Eagles standout AJ Brown said they’ve received safety recommendations and will “probably” stay in his hotel room. “We had a meeting where a lot of people told us ‘don’t do this,’ so I just want to go there, win the game and go home,” he added.
Despite these concerns, Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts said he was “excited” about the experience.
To address these security issues, the São Paulo government has implemented a police reinforcement, including specialized battalions. The delegations of both teams will receive escorts in all their transfers, and there will be an increased police presence near the stadium and in tourist areas of the city.
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