NFL Rio Game: Cowboys vs Ravens faces new concern less than two months before showdown
The Dallas Cowboys and Baltimore Ravens will square off in Maracanã Stadium in Week 3. But will field conditions be a problem?
The Dallas Cowboys are set to face the Baltimore Ravens in Week 3 of the 2026 NFL regular season in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
It will be the Cowboys’ first game abroad since they played the Jacksonville Jaguars in London back in 2014. Unfortunately, a new concern surrounding the matchup emerged Wednesday night.
Maracanã field conditions spark concerns
Brazilian journalist Felipe Laurence has covered the NFL for decades. Laurence took to social media to voice his worry surrounding the field conditions ahead of the league’s first-ever game in Rio de Janeiro.
“The Maracanã field doesn’t look to be in great shape with less than two months until the NFL game there,” he posted on X from his oQuarterback account.
Field condition concerns aren’t new in Brazil
Last year, the NFL invested around $1 million to upgrade the grass in Arena Corinthians, which has hosted two regular season games over the last two seasons. The investment followed a tough experience in 2024, when the soccer-centric grass was an issue due to being slicky and lacking stability.
Players, including RB Saquon Barkley, often slipped during the game. The league made adjustments one year later.
“We are always focused on delivering the best experience for our teams in every way, and certainly the field surface is a key component of that,” said Peter O’Reilly, NFL executive vice president of club business ahead of last year’s game in São Paulo. “Our team has been down there working with Corinthians to ensure the best possible field surface for this game, and we feel confident in that.”
Last year’s game there went much smoother for the NFL. But now, it’s a a new venue the league is working with. Hopefully, less than two months is enough to get the field conditions ready for NFL action.
If it is, Cowboys vs. Ravens should be a true banger of a game. And one the NFL expects to have a sold-out crowd, according to Laurence.
