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Justin Herbert, Chargers will play their 2025 season opener in Brazil

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Justin Herbert, Chargers will play their 2025 season opener in Brazil
News

News

Justin Herbert, Chargers will play their 2025 season opener in Brazil

2025-02-20 02:02 Last Updated At:02:10

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Los Angeles Chargers will play their 2025 season opener in Brazil, making the franchise the first to play on five continents, the NFL announced Wednesday.

The Chargers' opponent is expected to be announced in May, when the NFL's regular-season schedule is released.

The Chargers will be the home team for the Friday, Sept. 5 game at Neo Quimica Arena in São Paulo. The venue hosted a Week 1 matchup between the Philadelphia Eagles and Green Bay Packers last season in the first NFL game in South America.

Led by quarterback Justin Herbert, the Chargers finished 11-6 in 2024 in their first season under coach Jim Harbaugh before losing 32-12 to Houston in the wild-card round of the playoffs.

“It’s an honor to once again represent the NFL on an international stage,” said A.G. Spanos, the Chargers' president of business operations. “It’s also a tremendous opportunity to help grow the game and bring the Chargers brand to millions of sports fans across Brazil and Latin America."

Since 1976, the Chargers have played regular-season or preseason games in Mexico City, London, Tokyo, Berlin and Sydney.

The Chargers are scheduled to host AFC West rivals Denver, Kansas City and Las Vegas along with Houston, Indianapolis, Philadelphia, Washington, Pittsburgh and Minnesota.

Since the Super Bowl champions usually get to open the following season at home, the league is unlikely to schedule the Eagles for back-to-back trips to South America, while the Colts and Steelers are already scheduled to be the designated hosts of their own international games.

The NFL has announced that seven regular-season games will be played internationally during the 2025 season.

Three will be played in London. The Cleveland Browns and New York Jets are the designated home teams for the games at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium while the Jacksonville Jaguars will make their yearly appearance at Wembley Stadium.

The Pittsburgh Steelers will host the league's first regular-season game in Dublin, Ireland, and the Miami Dolphins are the home team for the game in Madrid, Spain. Berlin will host the Germany game for the first time with the Indianapolis Colts as the home team.

The NFL can schedule up to eight international matchups, beginning with this upcoming season.

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

FILE - Fans are seen outside Neo Quimica Arena before am NFL football game between the Philadelphia Eagles and Green Bay Packers,, Friday, Sept. 6, 2024, at in Sao Paulo, Brazil. (AP Photo/Gregory Payan, File)

FILE - Fans are seen outside Neo Quimica Arena before am NFL football game between the Philadelphia Eagles and Green Bay Packers,, Friday, Sept. 6, 2024, at in Sao Paulo, Brazil. (AP Photo/Gregory Payan, File)

FILE - Fans pack the stands of the Neo Quimica arena during a Brazilian soccer league match between Corinthians and Flamengo in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Sunday, Sept. 1, 2024. The Los Angeles Chargers will play their 2025 season opener in at the arena against an opponent to be announced this spring. (AP Photo/Andre Penner, File)

FILE - Fans pack the stands of the Neo Quimica arena during a Brazilian soccer league match between Corinthians and Flamengo in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Sunday, Sept. 1, 2024. The Los Angeles Chargers will play their 2025 season opener in at the arena against an opponent to be announced this spring. (AP Photo/Andre Penner, File)

FILE - A Los Angeles Chargers logo before an NFL football game between the Los Angeles Chargers and the New England Patriots Sunday, Oct. 31, 2021, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong, File)

FILE - A Los Angeles Chargers logo before an NFL football game between the Los Angeles Chargers and the New England Patriots Sunday, Oct. 31, 2021, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong, File)

NEW YORK (AP) — Giancarlo Stanton stole his first base since 2000 and had a go-ahead, two-run single to help the New York Yankees beat the Miami Marlins 9-7 on Saturday night for their second 7-1 start in three seasons.

Stanton snapped a 6-6 tie in the eighth with a clean single to left field off Michael Petersen (1-1) after the reliever walked three. In the seventh, Stanton swiped second for his first steal since Aug. 3, 2020.

The Yankees won in their final at-bat for the first time this year after Javier Sanoja hit a tying two-run double off Camilo Doval in the eighth. Brett Headrick (1-0) finished the eighth, and David Bednar loaded the bases before getting his fourth save.

Cody Bellinger helped the Yankees rally from a four-run deficit through four innings by hitting a two-run homer in the fifth and lifting a sacrifice fly in the sixth for a 5-4 lead.

Trent Grisham started New York’s three-run sixth with an RBI base hit and Aaron Judge followed with a tying single off Anthony Bender.

After drawing 11 walks Friday in an 8-2 win, the Yankees had 10 more.

The Yankees won their fourth straight after a short outing from Ryan Weathers against his former team. Acquired from the Marlins on Jan. 13, Weathers allowed three runs and six hits in 3 2/3 innings.

The game was delayed for about 10 minutes in the fourth when plate umpire Ron Kulpa exited after taking a foul ball off his mask. Scott Barry moved from first base to the plate and the game finished with three umpires.

Max Fried (2-0, 0.00 ERA), who has pitched 13 1/3 scoreless innings, was set to start Sunday for the Yankees against RHP Chris Paddack (0-1, 18.00).

Miami Marlins catcher Agustín Ramírez connects for a single during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the New York Yankees, Saturday, April 4, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Heather Khalifa)

Miami Marlins catcher Agustín Ramírez connects for a single during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the New York Yankees, Saturday, April 4, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Heather Khalifa)

Miami Marlins pitcher Max Meyer throws during the second inning of a baseball game against the New York Yankees, Saturday, April 4, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Heather Khalifa)

Miami Marlins pitcher Max Meyer throws during the second inning of a baseball game against the New York Yankees, Saturday, April 4, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Heather Khalifa)

New York Yankees' Cody Bellinger tosses his bat after a home run during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Miami Marlins, Saturday, April 4, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Heather Khalifa)

New York Yankees' Cody Bellinger tosses his bat after a home run during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Miami Marlins, Saturday, April 4, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Heather Khalifa)

New York Yankees' Cody Bellinger (35) celebrates his two-run home run with Aaron Judge during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Miami Marlins, Saturday, April 4, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Heather Khalifa)

New York Yankees' Cody Bellinger (35) celebrates his two-run home run with Aaron Judge during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Miami Marlins, Saturday, April 4, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Heather Khalifa)

New York Yankees' Trent Grisham slides home to score during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Miami Marlins, Saturday, April 4, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Heather Khalifa)

New York Yankees' Trent Grisham slides home to score during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Miami Marlins, Saturday, April 4, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Heather Khalifa)

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