Greener pastures?
The Dallas Cowboys and Baltimore Ravens are set to christen the famed Maracanã Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in Week 3, marking the first time the other football will be played in the city. But it wouldn't be a trip to Brazil without some questions surrounding the field.
The stadium's field conditions came under scrutiny in the week leading up to the matchup, with the NFLPA voicing its concerns with the seeming patchiness of the grass a safety concern for its players.
While it will take until game time to get a real idea of how the field will play, videos from the stadium show that the field may be shaping up leading up to the 4:25 p.m. ET kickoff on Sunday, Sept. 27.
A close up look at the field at Maracanã Stadium.#Cowboys
#CowboysNation pic.twitter.com/tNKgkqB9md
— 105.3 The FAN (@1053thefan) September 26, 2026
i know what you want — the up close shot of the playing field at Maracanã Stadium in Rio, Brazil.
— Patrik [No C] Walker (@VoiceOfTheStar) September 26, 2026
if i get you any closer you’d smell the grass.
but i got you. 👀 🔬 #Cowboys #Ravens pic.twitter.com/V9VcLcW3za
On Friday, NFLPA executive JC Tretter posted a statement to X, in which he detailed that player safety is important, as well as a player's ability to perform up to their standard on the field.
It's not the first time that a field in Brazil has come under the microscope. In 2024, São Paulo's Corinthians Arena played host to an international matchup between the Philadelphia Eagles and Green Bay Packers, a game in which the field played a major part; the field was noticeably lacking traction, forcing players to change cleats during the matchup.
NFL field director weighs in
NFL field director Nick Pappas spoke with reporters on Saturday, explaining the challenges of maintaining and preparing the field, noting that the field passed all the tests, including with an independent inspector and a member of the NFLPA on Friday.
Pappas noted that synthetic fibers were also installed in the grass in the days leading up to the game via the Grassmaster Stitching machine, which should also add some stability to the playing surface.
Other factors, including the climate and the nature of different sports (football vs. soccer) may play into the curation of the field, but as Pappas noted, there may be no inherent risk for the players
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Cowboys vs. Ravens field conditions get the OK leading to Brazil game
