Green Bay Packers cornerback Eric Stokes, center, attends training in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Thursday, Sept. 5, 2024, ahead of a game with the Philadelphia Eagles on Friday. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)

SAO PAULO (AP) — A nine-hour flight to Brazil and some time practicing under the sun in Sao Paulo seemed to have softened the Philadelphia Eagles and the Green Bay Packers ahead of their season opener on Friday.

Numerous players and coaches made comments before the trip suggesting they were unenthusiastic, concerned or downright grumpy about participating in the first NFL game in South America. But later, excitement drowned out those concerns.

The Eagles were the home team for the game at NeoQuimica Arena, nearly 4,800 miles from Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia. The Sao Paulo venue is the home of soccer club Corinthians and was used for the 2014 World Cup. More than 42,000 fans were expected to attend.

Friday games are rare in the NFL, which usually cedes that night to high school football.

“We all grew up playing on Friday nights under the Friday night lights,” Eagles coach Nick Sirianni said. Sirianni added that his team had received first-class treatment since arriving Wednesday night.