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American football gaining a lot of traction in Brazil

By Fox News
Published | Updated

Vasco da Gama Patriotas players, left, and Flamengo Futebol Americano players line up for a play in their Touchdown Tournament football match at Portuguesa stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Saturday, Sept. 27, 2014. There are more than 120 American football teams in the country, and new ones are being created every year, according to the Brazilian Confederation of American Football, which was established in 2012 to help develop the sport. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)

Flamengo Futebol Americano team players get ready for a Touchdown Tournament football match against Vasco da Gama Patriotas, at Portuguesa stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Saturday, Sept. 27, 2014. There are more than 120 American football teams in the country, and new ones are being created every year, according to the Brazilian Confederation of American Football, which was established in 2012 to help develop the sport. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)

A Vasco da Gama Patriotas fan watches her team compete in a Touchdown Tournament football match against Flamengo Futebol Americano at Portuguesa stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Saturday, Sept. 27, 2014. Brazilians are starting to pay attention to a different type of football - the one played with the hands. American football - once the sport nobody could understand - is quickly gaining space in the land of soccer, attracting a growing number of fans and participants. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)

Flamengo Futebol Americano football fans cheer for their team during a Touchdown Tournament match against Vasco da Gama Patriotas at Portuguesa stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Saturday, Sept. 27, 2014. American football, once the sport Brazilians couldn't understand, is quickly gaining space in the land of soccer, attracting a growing number of fans and participants. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)

A fan of Flamengo Futebol Americano team poses for a picture with a life-size cutout of a uniformed Flamengo player, before the start of a Touchdown tournament match at Portuguesa stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Saturday, Sept. 27, 2014. There are more than 120 American football teams in the country, and new ones are being created every year, according to the Brazilian Confederation of American Football, which was established in 2012 to help develop the sport. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)

Romulo Ramos of Vasco da Gama Patriotas jumps over Bruno Rosa of Flamengo Futebol Americano during their Touchdown Tournament football match at Portuguesa stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Saturday, Sept. 27, 2014. Not long ago, it was hard to find many people who knew much about American football in Brazil. The sport was virtually exclusive to foreigners who lived in the country and Brazilians who used to live abroad. Brazilians often said the rules were too difficult and criticized that it was too violent. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)

Felipe de Castro of Flamengo Futebol Americano jumps to throw the ball over a soccer goalpost after he scored a touchdown during a Touchdown Tournament football match against Vasco da Gama Patriotas, at Portuguesa stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Saturday, Sept. 27, 2014. Brazilians are starting to pay attention to a different type of football - the one played with the hands. American football - once the sport nobody could understand - is quickly gaining space in the land of soccer, attracting a growing number of fans and participants. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)

Fans of Flamengo Futebol Americano team wave their hands during aTouchdown tournament match at Portuguesa stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Saturday, Sept. 27, 2014. American football, once the sport Brazilians couldn't understand, is quickly gaining space in the land of soccer, attracting a growing number of fans and participants. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)

Raoni Marques of the Vasco da Gama Patriotas football team, eats before the start of a Touchdown Tournament match against Flamengo Futebol Americano at Portuguesa stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Saturday, Sept. 27, 2014. Not long ago, it was hard to find many people who knew much about American football in Brazil. The sport was virtually exclusive to foreigners who lived in the country and Brazilians who used to live abroad. Brazilians often said the rules were too difficult and criticized that it was too violent. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)

Flamengo Futebol Americano players helmets hand from hooks in a locker room at Portuguesa stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Saturday, Sept. 27, 2014. There are more than 120 American football teams in the country, and new ones are being created every year, according to the Brazilian Confederation of American Football, which was established in 2012 to help develop the sport. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)

Vasco da Gama Patriotas football fans cheer for their team during a Touchdown Tournament match against Flamengo Futebol Americano at Portuguesa stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Saturday, Sept. 27, 2014. Brazilians are starting to pay attention to a different type of football - the one played with the hands. American football - once the sport nobody could understand - is quickly gaining space in the land of soccer, attracting a growing number of fans and participants. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)

A Flamengo Futebol Americano football player suits up in preparation for the Touchdown Tournament match against Vasco da Gama Patriotas, at Portuguesa stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Saturday, Sept. 27, 2014. There are more than 4,800 active players in Brazil, not counting those with flag-football teams and youth and women's categories. Although there are many foreigners playing in local teams, the vast majority of players are Brazilians. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)