Even as the clock ticked down to less than thirty hours before the NFL’s inaugural contest in Rio de Janeiro, crews were still at work fine‑tuning the playing surface at the iconic Maracana Stadium. The matchup pitting the Dallas Cowboys against the Baltimore Ravens demanded a pristine pitch, yet the stadium’s turf had been a point of contention for nearly two weeks. Frequent use by the city’s two premier clubs—Flamengo and Fluminense—has left the grass in a less‑than‑ideal condition, with each team calling the venue for at least one home game per week throughout Brazil’s lengthy football season. On Saturday, workers equipped with a range of mowing machines and cutting tools, from large‑scale rollers to handheld shears, moved methodically across the field.
Their goal was to achieve a uniform, even surface that would meet the exacting standards required for professional American football. The plan was to finish the final trims just a few hours before kickoff, ensuring the athletes would step onto a safe, reliable surface.
The situation attracted the attention of the NFL Players Association. On the preceding Friday, the union’s executive director disclosed that both the league and the players’ union had dispatched field‑expert consultants to monitor the condition of the Maracana pitch in the days leading up to the game. Their primary worry centered on the possibility of loose or uneven turf, which could cause excessive slipping and increase the risk of injury.
In response, the NFL took the precaution of reinforcing the field’s stitching—a measure designed to improve traction and stability. Field director Nick Pappas, who has overseen the preparation of multiple international venues for the league, expressed confidence on Saturday. After a second round of inspections prompted by the union’s concerns, he told reporters that the additional work had addressed any lingering issues.
"Everything checks out," Pappas affirmed. "There’s no cause for alarm." His reassurance echoed earlier statements made earlier in the week, when he had voiced optimism that players would encounter no difficulties on the field.
This isn’t the NFL’s first foray into Brazil. The league debuted its South American venture in 2024, initially staging games at São Paulo’s 48,000‑seat NeoQuimica Arena.
That venue, which blends natural grass with synthetic fibers, earned praise as one of the country’s finest playing surfaces. However, the inaugural Brazil game also faced criticism over its turf, prompting the Philadelphia Eagles and Green Bay Packers to swap out their cleats to avoid slipping.
In contrast, the Maracana’s surface is 100 percent natural grass, a factor that has both enthusiasts and skeptics weighing in on its suitability for the high‑impact demands of NFL play. The Cowboys and Ravens arrived in Rio on Friday after roughly ten‑hour flights from the United States. Dallas quarterback Dak Prescott, along with his teammates and the team’s cheer squad, toured the stadium in the morning, taking in the historic venue and its massive capacity. Meanwhile, a group of Texas fans who had signed up for a stadium tour seemed more preoccupied with the prospect of indulging in a traditional Brazilian churrasco than with the condition of the field.
One fan, 72‑year‑old George Smith, sported a Cowboys blue‑star cap and a Brazil national team jersey as he remarked, "These boys grew up playing in rough conditions; I’m sure they’ll handle whatever the field throws at them. My real worry is making sure I get my steak today rather than tomorrow before the game." The atmosphere around the Maracana was unmistakably festive. In the glamorous southern district of Rio, near the famed Copacabana beach, Cowboys supporters outnumbered their Ravens counterparts, creating a sea of blue and silver amid the city’s vibrant backdrop.
Fans from other South American nations also trickled in, drawn by the novelty of an NFL game on their continent—Brazil remains the sole South American host for the league’s international series. This contest will be one of nine international games on the NFL’s 2026 schedule, marking a record number of overseas matchups in a single season.
The league’s expansion into global markets reflects a strategic push to broaden its fan base and showcase the sport to new audiences. For viewers at home, the game will be broadcast live on Sky Sports, with comprehensive coverage that includes every minute of the playoffs and the Super Bowl LXI scheduled for February 14, 2027. Fans can also take advantage of Sky Sports’ latest subscription offers or stream the action without a contract via the NOW platform.
The anticipation builds not only around the on‑field showdown but also around the broader narrative of American football’s growing footprint in Brazil and beyond.