The NFL kicks off its 2026 season this Thursday, the most global in the history of the American football league. At 9:20 PM (Brasília time), the current champion Seattle Seahawks will host the New England Patriots in the opening game, a replay of the last Super Bowl. The Seahawks are pointed out as the team to beat, after a last season marked by the dominance of their defense, considered one of the best in league history.
On the 27th, an NFL game will be held for the first time at Maracanã Stadium, in Rio de Janeiro. The matchup will be between Dallas Cowboys and Baltimore Ravens, representing the league's international expansion. Over the next five months, the 32 franchises will compete to reach Super Bowl 61, scheduled for February 14, 2027.
The grand final of the season will be played at SoFi Stadium, in Los Angeles, a modern stadium opened in 2020. The venue has already hosted Super Bowl 2021 and also received matches from this year's FIFA World Cup, demonstrating its capacity for major international sporting events.
