Even with less than thirty hours remaining before the NFL’s inaugural match in Rio de Janeiro, crews were still busy fine‑tuning the playing surface at the iconic Maracana Stadium on Saturday. The game, which pits the Dallas Cowboys against the Baltimore Ravens, is set to launch the league’s South American venture, and the stadium’s pitch has been under intense scrutiny for nearly two weeks. The Maracana’s grass has suffered from a demanding Brazilian football calendar; local powerhouses Flamengo and Fluminense each call the venue home and play there at least once a week. The relentless schedule has left the turf uneven and worn, prompting concerns about its suitability for an NFL contest, where the demands on the surface differ markedly from those of soccer.
To address the issues, ground‑staff members deployed a range of equipment—from large industrial mowers to handheld shears—to clip, level, and smooth the grass. Their goal was to finish the final grooming pass just a few hours before kickoff, ensuring the field met the league’s strict safety and performance standards. On Friday, the executive director of the NFL Players Association confirmed that both the league and the players’ union had dispatched field‑expert consultants to monitor the condition of the Maracana pitch ahead of Sunday’s game.
Those experts expressed particular worry about loose or shifting turf, which could increase the risk of players slipping and sustaining injuries. The union’s assessment focused on two key factors: traction and stability. In response, the NFL announced that it had reinforced the field’s stitching and taken additional measures to secure the surface.
Earlier in the week, field director Nick Pappas voiced confidence that the playing surface would be ready, stating that he expected no issues for the athletes. After the union raised its concerns, Pappas returned to the media on Saturday to report that the league had implemented further enhancements.
"Everything checks out now," he told reporters. "There’s no cause for alarm." The NFL’s presence in Brazil began in 2024, with the first two games of the series taking place at São Paulo’s 48,000‑seat NeoQuimica Arena.
That venue featured a hybrid surface—part natural grass, part synthetic—widely praised by Brazilian players as the nation’s best pitch. However, even there the turf drew criticism, forcing the Philadelphia Eagles and Green Bay Packers to swap cleats during the match to avoid excessive slipping. Unlike NeoQuimica, the Maracana field is composed entirely of natural grass, a factor that adds both charm and complexity.
Natural grass offers a classic aesthetic and can provide a softer landing for athletes, but it also demands meticulous upkeep, especially under the heavy usage it endures from weekly soccer fixtures and now an NFL game. The Cowboys and Ravens arrived in Rio on Friday after roughly ten‑hour flights. Dallas quarterback Dak Prescott, his teammates, and the team’s cheer squad toured the stadium in the morning, taking in the historic venue and its surroundings. Meanwhile, a contingent of Texas fans who participated in a stadium tour appeared more preoccupied with the prospect of enjoying a traditional Brazilian steakhouse for lunch than with the state of the turf.
One enthusiastic fan, 72‑year‑old George Smith, who sported a Cowboys blue‑star cap and a Brazil national team jersey, summed up the sentiment: "These guys grew up playing in rough conditions, so I’m sure they’ll handle whatever the field throws at them. My real worry is making sure I get my beef today rather than waiting until after the game." The atmosphere in Rio’s glamorous southern district, home to the famous Copacabana beach, reflected a clear tilt toward the Cowboys, whose supporters outnumbered those of the Ravens.
Fans continued to pour in from other South American nations, as Brazil remains the sole country in the region currently hosting NFL contests. Sunday’s matchup will be one of a record‑breaking nine international games on the NFL schedule for the 2026 season, underscoring the league’s commitment to expanding its global footprint. Viewers can follow the action live on Sky Sports, which will broadcast every minute of the season, including the playoffs and Super Bowl LXI slated for February 14, 2027. For those interested in streaming, Sky Sports offers flexible, contract‑free options through its NOW platform.