It’s not easy being green — especially if you’re playing a game at NeoQuimica Arena.
The home of soccer club Corinthians in Sao Paulo, Brazil is set to host the Green Bay Packers and Eagles on Friday night in the first-ever NFL regular season game in South America.
The only problem?
Corinthians and their fans hate the color green over a rivalry with another club SE Palmeiras, which uses green as one of its team colors.
And, notably, both the Eagles and Packers have green as part of their primary home and road uniforms.
According to the Associated Press, Corinthians players can be fined if they’re spotted wearing green, and home supporters refrain from wearing it.
So, per the AP, the Eagles — the “home” team in the game — will go with a black alternate look, featuring black helmets and pants to go along with white jerseys after Corinthians asked the Eagles not to wear green, saying it is only allowed to be donned by visitors in soccer games.
The Packers, the visiting team, will be wearing their usual home garb, which features a green jersey.
Earlier this summer, NFL spokesperson Tim Schlittner told USA Today that the green rules did not apply for this football game.
“None of that applies to the Green Bay-Philadelphia game, where fans of both Packers and Eagles will be wearing green,” Schlittner told the outlet.
It’s been an interesting lead-up to Week 1 for the Eagles, who made some headlines following cornerback Darius Slay’s comments in which he said he didn’t feel comfortable playing in the country with “a crime rate this high.”
That came after star receiver A.J. Brown had said he wouldn’t be leaving his room much before the season opener.
Slay, on Tuesday, apologized for his previous comments.
“I want to apologize to anyone I offended, that wasn’t my intention,” he wrote on social media. “I’m looking forward to playing in your beautiful country and i’ve heard yall are very passionate just like our amazing Eagles fan.
“Just a few more days, can’t wait!!!!”