The Dallas Cowboys already knew they were one of the two teams set to visit Rio de Janeiro, Brazil during the 2026 NFL regular season. According to one report, the Cowboys now know their opponent.
The Baltimore Banner’s Giana Han reported Wednesday the Cowboys will face the Baltimore Ravens in Brazil. Han also added in her report the game will occur during late September.
“The Ravens are headed to Brazil,” wrote Han.
“In Week 3, the Ravens will take on the Dallas Cowboys, who are the home team for the first NFL game to be played in Rio de Janeiro, two league sources told The Banner. They requested anonymity because they were not cleared to discuss the schedule publicly.
“The game in Maracaña will be the first of at least three in Rio over the next five years.”
Based on the calendar, September 27 is the Sunday of Week 3 in the 2026 NFL schedule. But it’s not yet known if the Brazil game will kick off on Sunday or another day of the week.
The NFL’s first game in Australia this September will be on a Thursday. That game will occur during the opening week of the 2026 campaign.
The NFL held games in Brazil during the 2024 and 2025 regular seasons. Each contest was on a Friday night during Week 1.
Those contests took place at Arena Corinthians in São Paulo, Brazil.
The Cowboys last faced the Ravens during September of the 2024 season. The Ravens defeated the Cowboys in Dallas 28-25.
Cowboys to Face Ravens in NFL’s First Rio de Janeiro Game: Report
GettyThe Baltimore Banner’s Giana Han reported Wednesday the Dallas Cowboys will host the Baltimore Ravens in Rio de Janeiro during the 2026 NFL regular season.
The NFL will release its official schedule this spring. It typically comes out in May a few weeks after the NFL Draft.
Entering this offseason, the Ravens were one of nine possible teams to draw the Cowboys matchup in Brazil. That’s because Baltimore was one of Dallas’s nine home opponents for the 2026 slate.
The Ravens probably make the most sense as the opponent.
Although the NFL is hosting the Los Angeles Rams–San Francisco 49ers rivalry in Australia this fall, the league typically stays away from division matchups in different countries. The 49ers are one of Dallas’ more intriguing home non-division opponents, but San Francisco is already going to Australia in September.
That leaves the Ravens along with the Jacksonville Jaguars, Tennessee Titans, Arizona Cardinals and Tampa Bay Buccaneers as the other choices.
Fans can rule out the Jaguars as a potential Brazil opponent for Dallas. The NFL has Jacksonville scheduled for two London matchups.
The Cowboys-Ravens showdown is an intriguing inter-conference matchup. But it’s not a rivalry game that American fans will be disappointed is not held in the United States.
Dallas has had very little success versus the Ravens over the years. Since the franchise moved to become the Ravens, the Cowboys are 1-6 against the organization. That includes a 1-2 home record.
Perhaps the Cowboys will fare better versus the Ravens if they square off in a different country.
Cowboys History in NFL International Series
GettyThe Dallas Cowboys played their last NFL International Game in 2014.
The Cowboys have very little experience playing in international games. They are the only team left in the league that has played just one regular season matchup outside the United States.
That came against the Jaguars during 2014. The Cowboys defeated the Jaguars at Wembley Stadium in London 31-17.
The NFL will have a record nine international games during the 2026 season. The league has announced the home teams for all nine matchups. The Ravens aren’t one of them.
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