Brazil has become a major market for the NFL. In recent years, South American fans have made it clear that they want one of the league’s most iconic teams to play on their soil, and their wishes will be granted for the 2026 season.
The Dallas Cowboys will be sipping caipirinhas alongside delicious picanha while enjoying the beautiful landscapes of Rio de Janeiro. This past Thursday, February 5, 2026, it was announced that the legendary NFL franchise will be one of the teams playing at the iconic Maracanã stadium.
Although the Cowboys’ season was once again disappointing, and in 2026 they will reach 30 years without winning a Super Bowl or even appearing in an NFC conference final, Jerry’s team remains the most famous in the NFL and the one that generates the greatest international appeal.
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Now, after more than a decade without playing an international game, the last time coming in 2014 when they traveled to London, they will return to a contest outside the country, and this next stop will be in South America, specifically in the largest nation in the region, Brazil.
The growth of the NFL on the international stage
The NFL is placing strong attention and interest on its international games. That is why nine matchups will be played outside the United States territory in 2026. With this total, the league surpasses the 2025 figure by two.
This only means one thing: interest in the sport of hard hits continues to grow across the globe. Last year, games were played in Brazil, the United Kingdom, France, Spain, and Germany.
Now, with two more matchups, the host sites will be:
- Mexico
- Brazil
- London (three games)
- Germany
- Spain
- France
- Australia
The Dallas Cowboys will make history by visiting Brazil
The most famous and widely followed team in the NFL, the Dallas Cowboys, will play in Rio de Janeiro for the first time, at the cathedral of football, the Maracanã Stadium.
The Cowboys are headed overseas for the first time since 2014 and will play their first-ever game in South America with a scheduled game in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Read an excerpt from the team’s announcement.
It is not yet known when the game will be played, but what is expected is a massive crowd enjoying the Cowboys. It is worth remembering that previous NFL games in Brazil were held in Sao Paulo. That is why it is even more relevant that Dallas will be enjoying Ipanema and the entire Rio setting.
Read the full article here
