Eagles avoid the color green against Packers as a reference to Brazilian soccer rivalry
When the Green Bay Packers and the Philadelphia Eagles meet in the first NFL game in South America at Brazil’s Neo Química Arena on Friday night (8:15 p.m. ET; Peacock), the color green will be a big theme.
The reason for this is that the Neo Química Arena is the home of the Corinthians football club, a club that has an aversion to the green continent due to its rivalry with Palmeiras that goes back over a century.
When the NFL announced that the teams would travel to São Paulo, Brazil, and play at the Neo Química Arena, there were rumors that Corinthians would not allow either team to wear green clothing at the game. Some believed it was because of the football rivalry, while others, like Packers running back Josh Jacobs, claimed it had something to do with gangs.
The league quickly dismissed these rumors and stated that the color ban in place for the football club would have no impact on the clothing of the Packers and Eagles.
As the home team for the game, the Eagles will accommodate Corinthians fans by wearing black helmets, white jerseys and black pants – the same colors as the football team. The “host” Packers will wear their traditional white, yellow and green jerseys with yellow helmets and yellow pants.
“We thought the uniform combination, which we’ve never worn, was a unique nod to them and steered us away from the green jersey,” Eagles assistant general manager Jon Ferrari said, via PHLY’s Jon Berman. “I wouldn’t say we were prohibited from wearing the green jersey, anything like that. … The uniqueness of the game, the uniqueness of the color combination was the reason for that decision.”
This week, however, there was a slip-up when Corinthians’ Jaire Alexander and Hugo Souza swapped jerseys and the Packers cornerback handed the goalie a green Packers jersey.
This did not please some Corinthians fans, as Palmeiras fans have declared the Packers as their team for Friday night and will wear green jerseys amid the expected 42,000 spectators.
How seriously do Corinthians and its fanbase take the colour green? Just ask former striker Jô, who was fined for wearing green football boots in 2021.
Sponsors must also adhere to the rule if they want to do business with the club.
When the game finally starts, the Corinthian fans in attendance will root for the Eagles and the Palmeiras fans will jump on the Packers bandwagon, if only for one night.
