NFL officials say the Maracanã Stadium field in Rio de Janeiro is ready for the Week 3 showdown between the Dallas Cowboys and Baltimore Ravens. League and team executives report full confidence and no plans to relocate the game.
The NFL announced on Monday that the Maracanã Stadium field in Rio de Janeiro is ready for the Week 3 international matchup between the Dallas Cowboys and the Baltimore Ravens, stating the league has "full confidence" the venue will be prepared in time (source [1]).
Field Director Nick Pappas told reporters there are "no concerns" about the playing surface, adding that moving the game is "not a conversation" (source [3]). Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones echoed the sentiment, saying the league is "full speed ahead" on the Brazil game (source [2]).
Ravens head coach Jesse Minter said his team feels "pretty good" about the conditions, noting that the league’s staff have been on site and are monitoring the situation (source [3]). He outlined the team’s travel itinerary: normal practice on Wednesday and Thursday, a Thursday night flight, and an arrival in Rio on Friday morning to recover from the long trip before a standard Friday practice (source [3]).
The game remains scheduled for Sunday at 4:25 p.m. ET (5:25 p.m. local time), with both clubs set to depart for Rio on Thursday as planned (source [3]). With field officials and team leadership expressing confidence, the international contest is expected to proceed without further delay.