NFL Rio de Janeiro 2027: when does the Maracanã get its next game?

Rio de Janeiro staged its first NFL game on 27 September 2026, a 34-31 Ravens win over the Cowboys at the Maracanã. An agreement with the state of Rio guarantees at least three regular-season games over five years from 2026, but the years of the next two have not been published. A 2027 game is to be confirmed.

The Rio agreement and what it means for the NFL in 2027

Rio is not a one-off. The NFL and the Rio de Janeiro state government agreed on a minimum of three regular-season games at the Maracanã within five years, starting in 2026. One has been played. The other two are guaranteed in principle, but the league has not said when, so 2027 is possible rather than certain.

Two things work in Rio's favour. From 2027 the owners have approved up to 10 international games a season (vote of 19 May 2026), and teams can no longer keep their home games off the list. More slots, more host clubs. Against that, other markets such as Berlin and Mexico City already hold firm 2027 commitments. Until the NFL publishes its plans, treat Rio 2027 as to be confirmed.

Expect clarity in two stages: host venues usually around Super Bowl week in February, matchups with the schedule release in May. Our International Series 2027 tracker is updated as each city is confirmed.

Rio's first NFL game

Date	Matchup	Result
27 Sep 2026	Baltimore Ravens at Dallas Cowboys	Ravens 34-31 Cowboys

The Cowboys were the designated home team for a week-three Sunday game, and it went down to the last snap: Tyler Loop kicked a 56-yard field goal as time expired to win it for Baltimore. The official crowd was 72,792. It followed two games in São Paulo in 2024 and 2025, making Brazil a three-game market in three years; see the São Paulo page for that history.

The Maracanã: how to get to Rio's NFL venue

Few grounds carry as much football history. The Maracanã hosted the World Cup final in 1950 and again in 2014, and it will stage the opening match and the final of the 2027 Women's World Cup in June and July 2027. For the NFL, the league quotes a capacity of 78,838.

Getting there is straightforward by rail:

Metro Line 2: Maracanã station, right by the stadium.
SuperVia suburban train: also stops at Maracanã.
São Cristóvão (Metro Lines 1 and 2): about a ten-minute walk, useful when the main station is crowded.

From Copacabana, Ipanema or Botafogo the metro is far more reliable than a taxi on match day. Plan your route back before kick-off, and keep phones and valuables out of sight in the crowds, as you would at any big event.

How NFL Rio tickets were sold in 2026

The 2026 game is the best guide to what a future Rio sale might look like. Tickets went through Ticketmaster Brasil, with an extra fee-free official box office (at the Estádio Nilton Santos in 2026):

Presale for American Express and XP card holders: 27 to 31 May 2026.
General sale: 9 June 2026 at 10am Brasília time.
2026 face values: R$495 to R$2,720 for full-price tickets, with half-price meia-entrada tickets from R$247.50 to R$1,360 for eligible groups.

These are 2026 references only; prices and windows for the next Rio game are to be confirmed. Meia-entrada has strict eligibility rules under Brazilian law, so check whether you qualify before choosing it, or you may be refused entry. Resale platforms exist, but tickets are usually mobile and linked to the buyer, and resold seats can cost several times face value. Our email alert tells you when official sales open.

Budget and timing for an NFL Rio de Janeiro 2027 trip

Rio's 2026 game fell in late September, and the NFL's international season runs from September to November, so any 2027 Rio game would sit in that window. The date itself is to be confirmed. Hotels along the beachfront fill up quickly once a game is announced, so it makes sense to watch the February and May announcements closely and book flexible rates the moment Rio is named.

Previously recorded prices are displayed on this page. For context on where the NFL calendar goes after the autumn, see our guide to the Super Bowl LXI on 14 February 2027.

Flying in to Rio for the NFL from the UK, US or Australia

From North America, Rio is an overnight flight with little jet lag, and many fans combine the game with a few days on the beach. From the UK, Rio is four hours behind London in September, so a long weekend is realistic if flights line up. Australians face the longest journey, usually via South America, the Middle East or the US.

Check entry requirements for your passport before you book. This site is an independent guide, not affiliated with the NFL, and our NFL Brazil hub brings Rio and São Paulo together.

NFL Rio de Janeiro: your questions answered

Is there an NFL game in Rio de Janeiro in 2027?

Not confirmed. Rio has an agreement for at least three games over five years from 2026, but the years of the next two games have not been published.

Who played in Rio in 2026?

The Baltimore Ravens beat the Dallas Cowboys 34-31 at the Maracanã on 27 September 2026, with a 56-yard field goal at the final whistle.

How do I get to the Maracanã?

Metro Line 2 and the SuperVia train both stop at Maracanã station. São Cristóvão, on Metro Lines 1 and 2, is about ten minutes away on foot.

Where are official tickets sold?

In 2026 tickets were sold by Ticketmaster Brasil, plus a fee-free official box office. The channels for the next Rio game are to be confirmed.

Can foreign visitors buy meia-entrada tickets?

Meia-entrada is reserved for groups eligible under Brazilian law, and proof is checked at the gate. Most visitors should buy full-price tickets.

When will the next Rio game be announced?

The NFL usually names international venues around February and reveals matchups with the schedule in May. Our alert will tell you as soon as Rio is confirmed.

Independent guide, not affiliated with UEFA, FIFA, CAF, AFC, Concacaf or the NFL. No official logos are used. Official tickets are sold by the organisers and clubs; some links on this site are affiliate links to resale platforms, whose prices may exceed face value.