The NFL announced a commitment Friday to play at least three regular season games over five years in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, starting next season.

The first game will take place in 2026 at historic Maracana Stadium, a 78,000-capacity facility that opened for the 1950 FIFA World Cup and hosted the opening and closing ceremonies for the Summer Olympics in 2016.

According to the league, Brazil is home to more than 36 million NFL fans. Games have been played in Week 1 in each of the past two seasons in Sao Paulo.

"Building on the success of the games in Sao Paulo, we could not be more excited to play in one of the world's most iconic cities -- Rio de Janeiro," said NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell. "We look forward to working closely with our city and state partners in Rio along with the hist

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