Maracanã Stadium in Rio de Janeiro serves as the battleground for the Dallas Cowboys and Baltimore Ravens on Sunday, September 27, 2026, with kickoff set for 5:25 p.m. local time. The Week 3 regular-season matchup marks the NFL’s historic debut in Rio de Janeiro and stands as the third official league game staged on Brazilian soil.
Venue gates opened to spectators at 1:25 p.m. local time, welcoming fans four hours ahead of the scheduled action. “We are thrilled and honored to be part of the NFL’s first game in Rio. Playing in this legendary stadium before such a passionate and growing fan base on a global stage is going to be special for our team, the entire Cowboys organization and millions of fans around the world,” said Jerry Jones, owner and general manager of the Dallas Cowboys.
Broadcast schedule, stadium logistics and entertainment lineup
Viewers across Brazil have multiple broadcast choices across linear networks and digital platforms, ensuring comprehensive coverage that spans pregame ceremonies and musical acts. Domestic coverage incorporates in-depth commentary and continuous visual access to all stadium festivities throughout the afternoon.
home field for the weekend 🏠#BALvsDAL | #DallasCowboys pic.twitter.com/A0WuJL2qbc
— Dallas Cowboys (@dallascowboys) September 26, 2026
- Date and kickoff time: Sunday, September 27, 2026, at 5:25 p.m. local Brasília time
- Venue: Maracanã Stadium, Rio de Janeiro
- Gate access: Entry opened at 1:25 p.m. local time
- Broadcast outlets: Live coverage on sportv and ge TV, with halftime performance and game highlights broadcast on TV Globo
- Musical performances: Brazilian national anthem by Péricles, United States national anthem by Kandace Lindsey, and halftime show presented by Ricky Martin alongside Pedro Sampaio
Regular season standings and head-to-head records
Both franchises enter Sunday’s contest carrying identical 1-1 records through the first two weeks of the campaign. Under head coach Brian Schottenheimer and starting quarterback Dak Prescott, the Dallas Cowboys rebounded from a season-opening loss against the New York Giants by defeating the Washington Commanders in Week 2. The Texas roster features wideouts CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens, strengthening an enterprise valued at R$ 66 billion as the world’s most valuable sports franchise.
Owned by Steve Bisciotti, the Baltimore Ravens aim to establish a winning record after opening with a victory over the Indianapolis Colts followed by a Week 2 defeat to the New Orleans Saints. Offensive game plans lean heavily on dual-threat quarterback Lamar Jackson and powerful running back Derrick Henry. Historical head-to-head records favor the Ravens, who boast six victories and only one defeat across their previous seven encounters against the Cowboys.
Facility upgrades and pitch certification inside Maracanã
Staging an official regular-season fixture demanded extensive structural changes throughout the historic stadium’s locker room facilities. Work crews expanded the facilities to accommodate active 53-man rosters for each team, with 48 active players dressed for gameday. The operational plan assigned the dressing room typically utilized by Flamengo to the Dallas Cowboys, while the quarters belonging to Fluminense housed the Baltimore Ravens.
Stephen Farago, NFL director of international event operations, outlined the extensive logistical needs of hosting professional football. “When we go to international games, we always have a few things we need to do to prepare the stadium for the NFL. Expanding some of the locker room facilities, for example, because we have more players than a soccer team might have,” Farago said.
Playing surface conditions received formal clearance on Friday morning, September 25, 2026, following evaluations conducted by the NFL, the players association, and an independent turf specialist. Nick Pappas, NFL director of field surface operations, confirmed that the surface satisfied every benchmark required by the league. “A lot of our mandatory practices, our standards, are centric around health and safety, as they should be, right? We always want to put in some sort of standards that we can measure and enforce from a safety and compliance perspective. This field meets that,” Pappas declared.
Traffic coordination and the growth of American football across Brazilian venues
Municipal authorities deployed more than 1,500 traffic and security personnel across surrounding neighborhoods to oversee crowd flow. Municipal traffic engineering agency CET-Rio implemented parking restrictions near Maracanã starting at 7:00 p.m. on Saturday, September 26, 2026, pairing road closures with enhanced subway and commuter train operations to accommodate an estimated national fan base of 36 million followers.
The game in Rio continues the league’s South American expansion following two previous regular-season games at Neo Química Arena in São Paulo. On September 6, 2024, the Philadelphia Eagles defeated the Green Bay Packers 34-29, while the Los Angeles Chargers topped the Kansas City Chiefs 27-21 in 2025. Under current league commitments, Rio de Janeiro will host a minimum of three regular-season fixtures over a five-year period starting with the 2026 matchup.
