The NFL will stage its first regular-season game in Rio de Janeiro on Sunday as the Dallas Cowboys face the Baltimore Ravens at Maracanã Stadium.
Kickoff is scheduled for 4:25 p.m. Eastern Time, or 5:25 p.m. local time in Rio. The matchup is part of the league’s expanded 2026 international schedule, which includes a record nine games across four continents.
Maracanã hosts American football
Maracanã is one of the world’s most recognizable football stadiums, having hosted FIFA World Cup matches, Olympic ceremonies and major Brazilian club games. Sunday’s game brings the NFL to Rio after previous Brazil games were held in São Paulo.
The league has designated Rio as one of its new international markets and plans to stage multiple regular-season games in the city over the coming years.
Cowboys and Ravens headline Week 3 abroad
Dallas and Baltimore enter the matchup as two of the NFL’s most widely followed franchises. Both teams have spent the week in Brazil preparing for the game and participating in league promotional events.
The NFL scheduled a full week of fan activities in Rio leading into the game, including official merchandise locations, live entertainment and public events.
Ricky Martin and Pedro Sampaio at halftime
The league has also planned a major halftime show featuring Ricky Martin and Brazilian DJ Pedro Sampaio. The entertainment program is designed to give the event a local and international profile beyond the game itself.
A larger international strategy
Rio is one stop in the NFL’s most ambitious international season to date. The 2026 schedule also includes games in Melbourne, London, Paris, Madrid, Munich and Mexico City.
The league is using these events to build local fan bases and test markets for long-term growth. Sunday’s Cowboys-Ravens game will provide another measure of how strongly the NFL can translate its U.S. audience into a live international following.
