When the Green Bay Packers and Philadelphia Eagles face off at Brazil’s Neo Química Arena on Friday night (8:15 p.m. ET; Peacock) in the NFL’s inaugural game in South America, the color green will be a major talking point.
This is because Neo Química Arena is the home of the soccer team Corinthians, a club that has a longstanding aversion to the color green due to its rivalry with Palmeiras that spans over a century.
When the NFL announced that the teams would be playing in São Paulo at Neo Química Arena, rumors circulated that Corinthians would not allow either team to wear green during the game. Some speculated that it was due to the soccer rivalry, while others, like Packers’ running back Josh Jacobs, suggested it was related to gang affiliations.
The league quickly dispelled these rumors, confirming that the color ban enforced by the soccer club would not impact the attire of the Packers and Eagles.
As the designated home team for the match, the Eagles will cater to the rooting interests of Corinthians fans by donning black helmets, white jerseys, and black pants – mirroring the colors of the soccer team. The “away” Packers will showcase their classic white, yellow, and green jerseys with yellow helmets and pants.
However, a mishap occurred this week when Jaire Alexander and Hugo Souza of Corinthians exchanged jerseys, with the Packers cornerback gifting the goalkeeper a green Packers jersey.
This gesture did not sit well with some Corinthians fans, as Palmeiras supporters have adopted the Packers as their team for the night and will be clad in green amongst the anticipated 42,000 spectators.
The seriousness with which Corinthians and its fan base regard the issue of the color green is evident. Former forward Jô was fined in 2021 for wearing green cleats, and sponsors must also adhere to the rule if they wish to engage with the club.
Once the game kicks off, Corinthians fans in attendance will rally behind the Eagles, while Palmeiras fans will jump on the Packers’ bandwagon, if only for one evening.