PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) — The stage is set for the Philadelphia Eagles’ first game of the season in São Paulo, Brazil, against the Green Bay Packers. It is the first NFL game in South America.
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More than 42,000 fans are expected.
The teams are already in town and have completed some training sessions, and players and coaches sounded excited to be there despite some comments ahead of this game.
The stadium in Sao Paulo is the home of the football club Corinthians and was used during the 2014 World Cup.
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The funny thing is that this football club – Corinthians – hates green because it is the colour of their local rivals.
“In South America you see how passionate they are,” said Eagles running back Saquon Barkley. “If you need a team to cheer for, why not the Philadelphia Eagles?”
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“The only thing I don’t like about this game is that they are playing in my rival soccer team’s stadium,” said Daniel Benabou from Sao Paolo.
Apparently they hate the color so much that about a decade ago there was talk of painting the field black.
The Eagles, who are nominated as the host team and could go down well with some local fans, will wear black helmets, white jerseys and black shorts – the colors of Corinthians. However, a Brazilian Eagles fan at the airport said he would wear green.
“I think it’s silly. I wear green and I don’t care,” Benabou said.
“I’m going to tell the Brazilian crowd, ‘We’re so excited to be here. Make sure you’re as loud as you can: Fly Eagles, fly, and be a little quieter,'” head coach Nick Sirriani said.
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