Cowboys will reportedly play Ravens in NFL's first Rio de Janeiro game during 2026 season The National Football League (NFL) is set to expand its international footprint with the announcement of its first regular-season game in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, during the 2026 season. The matchup between the Dallas Cowboys and the Baltimore Ravens will mark a significant milestone for the league, which has already established a presence in Brazil through Week 1 games held at Corinthians Arena in São Paulo over the past two seasons. The NFL revealed plans in February to host at least three regular-season games in Rio over the next five years, with the Cowboys scheduled to open the initiative. The Cowboys, who last played an international game in 2014 against the Jacksonville Jaguars in London, will face the Ravens in Week 3 of the 2026 season. The game will take place at Maracanã Stadium, a historic venue that hosted the 2014 FIFA World Cup final. The league confirmed that the Cowboys-Ravens matchup will be one of nine international games scheduled for the 2026 season, alongside other events such as the first-ever regular-season game in Melbourne, Australia, where the San Francisco 49ers will play the Los Angeles Rams on September 10. The Seattle Seahawks will also open the season on Wednesday, September 9, in a rare Wednesday night league opener. The NFL’s expansion into Brazil has been bolstered by the country’s growing fan base, with over 36 million NFL supporters reported in the nation. The league’s previous international games in Brazil, including the 2024 season opener where the Philadelphia Eagles defeated the Green Bay Packers by a single score and the 2025 game where the Los Angeles Chargers edged the Kansas City Chiefs, have demonstrated the appeal of the sport in the region.#nfl #baltimore_ravens #dallas_cowboys #rio_de_janeiro #maracan_stadium
