The Baltimore Ravens face the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday 27 September 2026 at the Maracana in Rio de Janeiro, the first NFL regular-season game ever staged in the Brazilian city. The Week 3 fixture is part of the NFL International Series, with Dallas listed as the designated home team.
When and where
Kick-off is set for Sunday 27 September 2026 at the Estadio do Maracana in Rio de Janeiro, with a scheduled start of 3:25pm CT (US). The Maracana, which hosted the 2014 FIFA World Cup final and the 2016 Olympic ceremonies, becomes the second Brazilian venue to welcome the NFL after Sao Paulo staged the league’s first two games in the country. This is one of an NFL-record nine international games scheduled for the 2026 season, spread across seven countries.
The matchup
This is a meeting of two of the most recognisable franchises in American football. Baltimore arrive as a consistent AFC contender built around a mobile, high-tempo offence and an aggressive defence, while Dallas carry one of the largest global fan bases in the sport and the marketing pull that comes with the star on the helmet. Although the two sides sit in different conferences and meet only occasionally, the history is lopsided: Baltimore hold a 6-1 advantage in the all-time series, with Dallas’s only win coming in 2016. As a non-conference fixture the result will not shape a divisional race, but with both teams expecting to compete in 2026, an early-season win on a neutral continent carries real momentum.
Players to watch
The headline duel is at quarterback, where Baltimore’s Lamar Jackson and Dallas’s Dak Prescott renew acquaintances. The pair finished first and second in the 2023 MVP voting, and their contrasting styles, Jackson’s dual-threat improvisation against Prescott’s pocket precision, frame the contest. Beyond the two passers, watch the trenches: Baltimore’s pass rush against the Dallas offensive line, and how Dallas’s front pressures a quarterback as elusive as Jackson. The receiving and running-back groups on both rosters will also be central, but the game is likely to turn on which quarterback is given time and space to operate.
Why this game matters
The NFL International Series exists to grow the sport beyond North America, bringing a competitive regular-season game to a new market rather than an exhibition. Rio de Janeiro’s debut is a statement of intent for the league in South America, building on the enthusiastic reception in Sao Paulo. For Brazilian fans, the chance to see two marquee franchises and two MVP-calibre quarterbacks in person, inside a stadium as storied as the Maracana, is the draw. The NFL has committed to multiple games in Brazil over the coming years, and the success of this fixture will help shape how quickly that footprint expands.
How to watch
In the United States the game is scheduled to be broadcast on CBS. In the United Kingdom, NFL coverage is shown on Sky Sports, with games also available via NFL Game Pass on DAZN. In Brazil and across the host region, the International Series typically attracts strong local broadcast and free-to-air interest, so domestic listings are worth checking close to kick-off. Confirm the exact channel and streaming options nearer the date, as international windows can change.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the Ravens v Cowboys 2026 game being played? At the Maracana in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, the first NFL regular-season game held in the city.
When does the game kick off? Sunday 27 September 2026, in Week 3 of the NFL season, with a scheduled 3:25pm CT start.
Which team is the home side? Dallas are listed as the designated home team for this International Series fixture, despite the neutral venue.
See the full season on our NFL 2026 schedule.