NFL game in Rio moves R$ 462.7 million and leads fans from 66 countries to Maracanã

O game of the NFL in Rio, held at the Maracanã in 2026, generated a total economic impact estimated at R$ 462.7 million, R$ 231.8 million of direct economic impact, according to study. The match brought together 72.8 thousand fans, the largest audience of the Maracanã in the year.

The data is part of the study “Economic Impact of the NFL Game in Rio (2026)”, elaborated by Prefeitura do Rio, through the Municipal Secretariat of Economic Development (SMDE) and the Tourism Company of the Municipality of Rio de Janeiro (Riotur), in partnership with NFL.

In addition to the economic impact, the event demonstrated the international reach of Rio as a tourist destination. About 5% of the tickets were sold to fans from outside Brazil, from 66 different countries. Among Brazilian buyers, 35% were from Rio and 65% came from other cities, covering 955 municipalities.

In the distribution of the total public, 30% were residents of Rio de Janeiro, while 55% came from other regions of Brazil. The remaining 5% corresponded to international fans.

The scope of the match also dialogues with the growing presence of NFL in Brazil. The country is the second largest international public in the league, with over 36 million fans and an official office in Brazilian territory.

The results reinforce the importance of major events for Rio's economy and tourism, moving different sectors, attracting national and international visitors and expanding the city's projection on the global scene.