Field at Maracana Stadium in Rio holds up fine for Ravens-Cowboys after concerns about turf quality

The turf at Rio de Janeiro’s Maracana Stadium, the site of the NFL’s first game in Brazil, initially raised concerns ahead of Sunday’s matchup between the Dallas Cowboys and Baltimore Ravens. However, meticulous efforts made in the days leading up to kickoff appeared to successfully address issues of traction and stability. The Ravens ultimately triumphed 34-31 over the Cowboys, a nail-biting contest decided by a 56-yard field goal by Tyler Loop with time running out.

These concerns prompted the NFL to reinforce stitching of the natural grass throughout the week, yet players reported no slipping or tripping on the field. The stadium’s grass was in poor condition one week prior to the game due to heavy usage by local soccer clubs Flamengo and Fluminense. On Saturday, shortly after NFL Players Association executive director confirmed both the league and players union had experts monitoring the field, Maracana workers used mowers and scissors to maintain the grass.

NFL field director Nick Pappas, confident in the players’ footing, personally inspected the turf minutes prior to kickoff. Both quarterbacks, Dak Prescott of the Cowboys and Brian Schottenheimer of the Ravens, confirmed that field conditions were not a factor in the game. The NFL has been playing in Brazil since 2024, but previous games were held at NeoQuimica Arena in Sao Paulo, where players had to alter their cleats in the first Brazil game to prevent slipping.

The Maracana field, composed entirely of natural grass, did not impede a pivotal moment of the game when Cowboys player Jake Ferguson fumbled the ball during a third-quarter play. Brazilian fans, familiar with the stadium, found the turf complaints to be overstated, asserting that NFL players had faced far worse playing conditions in the United States.