Workers are still trimming the grass at Rio de Janeiro’s iconic Maracana Stadium on Saturday, just under 30 hours before the NFL’s first game in Brazil between the Dallas Cowboys and the Baltimore Ravens. Using a mix of mowers and hand scissors, crews are leveling high grass to ensure a smooth playing surface for Sunday’s kickoff.
Union experts monitor field safety
On Friday, the executive director of the NFL Players Association confirmed that both the league and the players’ union have deployed experts to monitor the field conditions. Their primary worry is loose turf that could cause excessive slipping. In response, the NFL has reinforced the stadium’s stitching and made additional improvements, field director Nick Pappas told reporters.
“Things check out,” Pappas said. “No need to worry.”
Past turf issues and the move to Rio
The Maracana’s natural‑grass surface has drawn criticism in recent weeks, echoing concerns from the league’s first Brazil game in 2024 at São Paulo’s NeoQuimica Arena, where players from the Philadelphia Eagles and Green Bay Packers had to change cleats to avoid slipping. Unlike the hybrid surface at NeoQuimica, the Maracana field is 100% natural grass, a factor the league hopes will provide better traction.
Cowboys and Ravens arrive in Rio
The Cowboys and Ravens began their preparations Friday after roughly ten‑hour flights. Dallas quarterback Dak Prescott, his teammates and cheerleaders toured the stadium in the morning. Texas fans on a stadium tour expressed more concern about finding a Brazilian steakhouse for lunch than about the turf, with one fan noting, “These boys have played in very bad conditions growing up, I am sure they will handle whatever challenges come.”
Fans and tourism blend with football
Rio’s famous southern waterfront, home to Copacabana Beach, is seeing a larger presence of Cowboys supporters compared with Ravens fans. Visitors from across South America are also flocking to the city, making Brazil the sole regional host for NFL games this season. The game marks one of a record nine international contests on the NFL schedule.
Tourists are taking advantage of Rio’s attractions, from Sugarloaf Mountain to the Christ the Redeemer statue, while the Maracana metro station has been decorated with NFL themes. As temperatures hover around 80 °F (28 °C), many locals and travelers prefer the beach to the upcoming football spectacle, but the excitement around the historic event continues to grow.
Original reporting: KSAT Sports (San Antonio) — read the source article.
