A giant American football took over São Paulo’s main avenue, and murals colored apartment buildings ahead of the NFL season opener between the Los Angeles Chargers and the Kansas City Chiefs, which takes place on Friday.

"When you start to learn the teams' strategies and get to know the stories behind them, that makes you fall in love with the sport,” said American football fan Douglas Fragoso.

In addition to the oversized football, three large-scale murals have been unveiled across the city, paying tribute to the sport.

The works were created by world-renowned artist Eduardo Kobra, as well as Leandro Nascimento and Crica Monteiro, all of them covering the sides of high-rise apartment buildings.

Monteiro, who also painted a mural for last year’s inaugural NFL game in Brazil, noted a shift in public interest.

“We are the country of soccer, we love soccer,” she said, “but I discovered while painting the previous mural that our country has many American football fans.”

Local officials and organizers expect the game and surrounding events to inject about R$330 million ($60 million) into São Paulo’s economy, from tourism to hospitality.

AP Video by Thiago Mostazo and Maycron Abade