An international game requires unimaginable planning and logistics from nearly every department of an NFL organization.

But a team's equipment staff is at the top of the list of people who need to have things exactly planned out.

Especially when the game falls in the season opener.

"The challenge of this one was the fact that it was Week 1," said Kevin Duddy, the Chargers senior equipment manager. "Now you're dealing with the roster being set a week and a half before the game."

"With it being Week 1, it's an extra challenge. You're really just establishing your team and getting the smoke settled from breaking training camp," Duddy added. "Normally you have a Week 0 to adjust and get ready, there's no Week 0 for us. We're going from one fire to the next and trying to put it out at the same time."

Yes, when the Chargers arrive in São Paulo on Wednesday morning, they will have more equipment than they need.

But that was what was necessary, and one of many hoops the equipment staff had to jump through to get to this point.

First, let's go back to the beginning.

The NFL announced in February that the Bolts were playing in Brazil and that they would be the designated.

Chris Smith, the Chargers Director of Equipment Operations, and his staff sprang into action.

The first item on their list — no pun intended — was to create a to-do list.

That included a carnet, which is a travel document that details any item that will make the trip to São Paulo.

"It's everything that is going to Brazil from every department," Smith said.

But Smith and his staff of Duddy, plus equipment assistants Chad Jessop, Tasso Panopoulos and Tristan Greene couldn't just make an itemized list.

It was more detailed than that.

The carnet had to include every single item, plus how much it weighs, where it was made, how much it costs and a serial number for all electronics.

The final version of the Chargers carnet ended up including hundreds of items — including everything from dental floss to eye black to multiple shoe dryers — that the Chargers will need in South America.

But again, all of that stuff left The Bolt last Tuesday at 7 a.m., which was hours before the team was required to submit their initial 53-man roster to the league.

It arrived in New Jersey a few days later before the NFL flew it all, along with all of the Chiefs gear, on a cargo plane to Brazil. Everything landed in São Paulo on Sunday morning.

"We had to pack everything," Duddy said. "Players who got released, their stuff will be in Brazil. We had no choice."

"It's better to be overprepared out there than underprepared, because there's no jumping back here and getting something if you left it," Duddy added.

While the carnet was the biggest obstacle to tackle, the Chargers also had other logistics to figure out, too.

Food and drinks weren't allowed on the aforementioned cargo plane. So the Chargers trucked nutrition items and beverages to New York in May before those items were put on a ship that sailed down through the Atlantic Ocean.

It arrived in Brazil in early August and will be at the team hotel when the Chargers get their Wednesday morning.

Smith logged some air miles, too, with a trip to São Paulo in May.

His objective?

Get eyes on the airport, team hotel, stadium locker room and the field at Arena Corinthians.

The Chargers will practice Tuesday at The Bolt before heading to the airport, the same as a normal road trip, which means players must pack their bags for practice in Brazil.

And while dozens of player bags will be on the flight, that also means Smith and his staff will need to unload it once it goes through customs.

"Normally that stuff just gets loaded on a truck and goes," Duddy said. "But with another country, that stuff has to go through customs and then it comes out a turnstile like a normal airport.

"So we're going to have luggage carts to load up 70 player bags," Duddy added. "Part of the job but it's actually kind of fun."

Smith noted the staff at both the team hotel and stadium were incredibly friendly. As for the turf, Smith said he was in contact with both the Eagles and Packers to learn from issues the team had a year ago.

Smith has implored players to wear detached cleats — which means longer studs — that can help on the slicker soccer field.

With so much to handle behind the scenes, Chargers Head Coach Jim Harbaugh said he is especially grateful for everyone who made the process smooth to this point.

"Our equipment staff, travel staff … everybody has been making it look easy," Harbaugh said.

He added: "That gives us the feeling of excitement in travel and go play the opener on a huge stage."

Of course, Smith and Duddy are no strangers to games far away from Southern California.

But when the game in South America kicks off, the Chargers will become first-ever NFL team to play games on five continents. The duo has been there for all of them.

"I didn't even realize it until they said the Chargers have been the most international team," Smith said. "And shoot, I've been on all those."

Duddy added: "It wasn't our first rodeo."

The heavy lifting for the Chargers Week 1 game is done.

Now, the focus turns to a smooth flight and having two good days of work on Wednesday and Thursday before the 2025 season opener against the Chiefs.

If the Bolts can start 1-0, Smith and his staff — plus plenty of others inside the Chargers organization — will have had a hand in the win.

"I like these kinds of challenges," Smith said. "It's nerve wracking when your equipment is detached from you so long. It makes you a little nervous. But if we win then it will all be totally worth it."