NC State Makes Massive International Trip Official
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RALEIGH — NC State and Virginia made it official. The two ACC schools will be the first college football programs to play a game in Brazil, with the programs scheduled to meet on Aug. 29, 2026, in the South American nation in an event titled "College Football Brasil," according to an announcement from the school.
Rumors of a potential game played in Brazil emerged in the weeks prior to the official announcement, but the school could not comment on the game until some details were ironed out. The financial information has not yet been revealed, but it will most likely be a lucrative opportunity for both UVA and NC State.
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Rio, here we come! 🇧🇷
— NC State Football (@PackFootball) December 1, 2025
We will open the 2026 season by taking part in the historic College Football Brasil - the first-ever FBS college football game played in South America.
📰: https://t.co/CKH9yBeosA pic.twitter.com/afyKe6DLU9
The game will take place at Nilton Santos Stadium (Engenhão) in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil. NC State's announcement indicated that the event is powered by a group called Athlete Advantage, as well as Brasil Sports Business. The NFL already made a footprint in South America with two games in Brazil over the last two seasons, which were deemed to be a success in terms of fan interest on the continent.
As for the logistics for the ACC, NC State and Virginia had a non-conference home-and-home scheduled, with the Wolfpack's leg being played in 2025, a game the Pack hung on to win 35-31. Virginia was scheduled to host NC State in 2026, but this game will replace it and now count toward the league standings instead of being a unique non-conference setup.
The Hoos are going to Rio‼️
— Virginia Football (@UVAFootball) December 1, 2025
We will face NC State in the FIRST FBS game ever played in South America.https://t.co/kQsrTY7Cjq#GoHoos 🔶⚔️🔷 pic.twitter.com/3PtatahxOy
In NC State's official release, athletic director Boo Corrigan shared some of his feelings on the event and the game itself, pleased with the opportunity to take the Wolfpack to the international stage for the first time ever.
"We're excited about the opportunity to play a game in a beautiful, world-renowned city like Rio de Janeiro and to bring American football to another continent," Corrigan's statement said. "It's definitely a unique situation to play a road game versus Virginia in Brazil, but it should be an unforgettable experience."
A statement from NC State head coach Dave Doeren, who was recently announced to be returning for a 14th season in Raleigh, was also included in the announcement.
"This will be a once-in-a-lifetime trip for our team and program and will be something our guys will remember for their entire lives," Doeren's statement said. "We are looking forward to experiencing the culture of Brazil while also providing the fans in Rio with an exciting football game against a great opponent."
The game is set to be televised on one of the ESPN networks, giving the Wolfpack a massive opportunity in Week 0 to take advantage of the ACC's television rating system.
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Tucker Sennett graduated summa cum laude with a B.A. in Sports Journalism from the esteemed Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Arizona State University. A former basketball player, he has gained valuable experience working at Cronkite News and brings a deep passion for sports and reporting to his role as the NC State Wolfpack Beat Writer On SI.
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