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Todd Archer
Multiple Authors
The Dallas Cowboys will make history in 2026, as they participate in the NFL’s inaugural regular-season game in Rio de Janeiro, according to league officials on Thursday.
This marks the NFL’s third consecutive year hosting a regular-season game in Brazil; the previous two were held in Sao Paulo.
This will be the Cowboys’ first time serving as the home team in an international game and their first overall international match since 2014, when they triumphed over the Jacksonville Jaguars at Wembley Stadium in London.
even with having nine home games scheduled, the Cowboys opted to give up a date at AT&T Stadium, per league guidelines. The match in Rio will take place at the iconic Maracana Stadium, which accommodates over 70,000 spectators and was the location for both the 1950 and 2014 FIFA World Cup finals, as well as the opening ceremony for the 2016 Olympics.
The Cowboys have a history of playing preseason games in cities like Tokyo, Toronto, Mexico City, and Monterrey, Mexico. though owner and general manager Jerry Jones preferred to have a game in Mexico City in 2026, the NFL was aiming for the Cowboys to play their first game in Rio.
Initially, the Cowboys were considered to face the Rams in Melbourne, but Los Angeles decided to reserve that matchup for SoFi Stadium; instead, they will take on the San Francisco 49ers in Australia, as confirmed earlier Thursday.
The specific date and opponent for the Cowboys’ game in Rio will be announced in the spring. Besides their NFC East rivals, the Cowboys have home matchups lined up against the Arizona Cardinals, Jaguars, 49ers, Tennessee Titans, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and Baltimore Ravens.
In 2026, there will be a record total of nine international games. Cities such as Paris, Munich, Madrid, and London (with three games) will join Rio, Mexico City, and Melbourne as host locations.
