PHILADELPHIA – Is Brazil ready for Eagles fans? You’ve probably never seen an Eagles tailgate party like the one Thursday night at Philadelphia International Airport.

Crowds of Birds fans flocked to catch a flight to Brazil ahead of the team’s season-opening game against the Packers.

“We have to go to Brazil, we’re going to Sao Paulo, and then we’re going to Rio to enjoy some of the beautiful sunshine,” said Andrew Trotter of Mount Airy.

Most, if not all, of the passengers on American Airlines Flight 241 nonstop to São Paulo are Eagles fans.

“This atmosphere is unbelievable. It’s crazy. They’re fanatical Eagles fans. As always. I love it. It will be my first international game,” said Tom Smallwood of Lansdale.

American Airlines hosted the special flight with Brazilian food, drinks and lots of greenery right at Gate 21A.

“I land at 7:30 a.m., then I have a flight to Rio de Janeiro. I’ll take it right back and go straight to the game,” said Tahir Basil of West Philadelphia.

Josh Allison, an Eagles fan from Virginia Beach, is bringing his entire family to Brazil. His wife, Ana, used to live there.

“It’s exciting. We’re definitely excited. We’re excited. The whole family is excited for my mom to come,” said Josh Allison of Virginia Beach.

“It’s great to see a little bit of the local culture come over there and they can experience the culture there,” said Ana Allison of Virginia Beach.

After a ten-hour flight and the game on Friday, many fans will board the plane again early Saturday morning and return from the turbulent trip of a lifetime.

FOX 29 will have non-stop coverage on FOX LOCAL until kickoff at 8:15 a.m., beginning with Good Day Philadelphia at 4 a.m. and continuing through 7:30 p.m. with live coverage from local Eagles tailgate events.

The game is the first Friday game on opening weekend since 1970 and the first NFL game in South America.