Ravens to Face Cowboys in Brazil in Week 3 of 2026 NFL Season

The matchup will be the first NFL game ever played in Rio de Janeiro and part of the league's expanded international slate.

Apr. 2, 2026 at 2:35am

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The Baltimore Ravens are expected to face the Dallas Cowboys in a Week 3 matchup in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in 2026. The game will be played at Maracana Stadium and marks the first NFL contest to be held in Rio, as the league continues to expand its international reach with a record nine games across seven countries scheduled for the 2026 season.

Why it matters

This international game in Brazil represents the NFL's ongoing efforts to grow its global fanbase and bring the sport to new markets. It also continues the recent trend of regular season games being played outside of the United States, which has included previous contests in London, Mexico City, and Sao Paulo.

The details

The Ravens-Cowboys matchup will be the third NFL game held in Brazil, following a 2024 season opener between the Philadelphia Eagles and Green Bay Packers in Sao Paulo, and a 2025 game featuring the Kansas City Chiefs and Los Angeles Chargers, also in Sao Paulo. The Rio de Janeiro contest is expected to be the first of at least three games scheduled at Maracana Stadium over the next five years.

  • The Ravens-Cowboys game is scheduled for Week 3 of the 2026 NFL season.
  • The NFL is expected to release the full 2026 schedule in May.

The players

Baltimore Ravens

An American professional football team based in Baltimore, Maryland that competes in the National Football League (NFL).

Dallas Cowboys

An American professional football team based in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex that competes in the National Football League (NFL).

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What they’re saying

“The Ravens are rumored to play the Cowboys in Brazil in Week 3 as NFL looks to expand global reach with nine international matchups in 2026.”

— Abdullah Imran, Author

What’s next

The NFL is expected to officially announce the full 2026 regular season schedule, including details on the Ravens-Cowboys matchup in Brazil, in May.

The takeaway

The upcoming Ravens-Cowboys game in Brazil is the latest example of the NFL's efforts to grow the sport's international fanbase, with a record number of overseas contests planned for the 2026 season. This matchup in Rio de Janeiro will mark the first time the league has played a regular season game in the city.