BORN TO PLAY NFL

In the Amazon, Valkyrias FA represents courage, unity, and female leadership. Founded 12 years ago by a group of friends, the team won the national title in 2022 and claimed eight consecutive regional championships. Players like Kricia Solarte, Magá, and Fernanda Maciel embody the sport’s transformative power and inspire new generations, especially with flag football on its way to the Olympics.

In Engenho Novo, a suburb of Rio, we meet Samuell, a 15-year-old who travels more than five hours with his father to train at Rio Football Academy, where he became a standout on the U-20 team. In Rocinha, RFA’s social project teaches flag football to kids like Lucas and Pietro, who found a new horizon through the sport. In the middle of inequality, American football emerges as a force for inclusion and hope: a bridge between realities and dreams.

In the Northeast, the rivalry between Recife Mariners and João Pessoa Espectros fuels one of the most vibrant classics in Brazilian American football. At the heart of this story are Callus Cox, an American who found a new home and purpose in Brazil, and Lucas Adolfo, an athlete who lived the rivalry from both sides of the field. In Recife, love for the game crosses borders, bringing players and fans together through passion and mutual respect.

On a dirt field in the Independência neighborhood, the Touchdown do Bem project introduces American football to more than 50 kids at Campo do Chiqueirinho. Led by Dayne, the initiative became a symbol of community transformation. Stories like Mayte, a young quarterback who found confidence through the sport, and Alexandre, a boy who discovered belonging within the team, reveal the deep impact the game has on local families.