DALLAS — The Dallas Cowboys will play a regular-season game in Rio de Janiero, Brazil, the National Football League (NFL) has announced. The game will be the first played in the city, which is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world.
The NFL has had a presence in Brazil over the past couple of years, with games being played in Sao Paulo since 2024. The Rio game will be played at Maracanã Stadium, according to the league. No date or opponent has been announced.
“We are proud to welcome the Dallas Cowboys to Brazil for the first‑ever NFL game in Rio de Janeiro,” said NFL Brazil General Manager Luis Martinez. “Introducing one of the league’s most iconic teams to the Maracanã Stadium marks a powerful milestone in the continued growth of the sport worldwide.”
This announcement comes amidst the NFL’s commitment to play three games in Rio de Janiero over the course of the next five years.
This is one of nine international games to be played during the 2026 season, with games in Brazil, France, Germany, Mexico, Spain, the United Kingdom and Australia, where the Los Angeles Rams will take on the San Francisco 49ers in Melbourne.
This will be the second international game for the Cowboys, who last played in the United Kingdom in 2014, beating the Jacksonville Jaguars 31-17. The Jaguars have played a game in the UK every year since 2013, a streak only interrupted by the COVID season of 2020.