How many fans are attending Cowboys vs Ravens in Rio, Brazil, for 2026 NFL Week 3?

Cowboys vs. Ravens will bring the NFL to Maracana for a historic Week 3 matchup in Rio. With thousands of Brazilian NFL fans expected, the size of the crowd will be another major part of the spectacle.

By Ariadna Pinheiro

Updated on September 27, 2026 01:42PM EDT

**© Buda Mendes/Getty Images**An aerial view of the Maracana Stadium before the NFL Game Baltimore Ravens and Dallas Cowboys

Dallas Cowboys and Baltimore Ravens are set to make NFL history at Maracana Stadium in Week 3, bringing the league’s first regular-season game to Rio de Janeiro, with Brazil’s massive football audience behind the event.

The game is scheduled for September 27 at 4:25 PM ET, with the NFL opening the stadium gates several hours earlier for ticket holders. The league has also planned a full Gameday Experience, adding interactive activities and more.

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As the teams prepare for their first international matchup in Rio, the question of just how many fans will pack the stadium is another key part of the event. The atmosphere will be central to a game that represents another major step.

How many fans can attend Cowboys vs. Ravens?

The exact attendance for Cowboys vs. Ravens in Rio has not been officially announced yet, but the game is expected to draw tens of thousands of fans at Maracana Stadium, which has a capacity of around 79,000.

Aerial view of Maracana Stadium after the Copa America Brazil 2021 Final (Source: Sergio Alves/Getty Images)

The league’s official Rio Game FAQ says gates will open at 1:25 PM local time, with ticket holders also getting access to the Gameday Experience, which includes interactive games, NFL Shop merchandise, photo opportunities with the Vince Lombardi Trophy and all 60 Super Bowl rings.

What time is Ricky Martin’s halftime show at Cowboys vs Ravens in Rio, Brazil?

There is plenty of reason to expect a strong turnout. Brazil has more than 36 million NFL fans, according to the league, making it one of the NFL’s most important international markets. The previous two NFL games in Brazil were sold out with more than 47,000 fans attending each game.

The occasion itself adds another layer to the expected turnout. Cowboys vs. Ravens will be the NFL’s first regular-season game in Rio de Janeiro, after the league previously staged its Brazil games in Sao Paulo.

The NFL has also committed to bringing at least three regular-season games to Rio over the next five years, signaling the importance the league places on the Brazilian market. So, for now, there is no confirmed attendance number.

Key takeaways

Dallas Cowboys face Baltimore Ravens at Maracana Stadium on September 27 in Rio.
The NFL committed to hosting at least 3 regular-season games in Rio over five years.
Around 70,000 fans will attend the Ravens vs. Cowboys game.

Ariadna Pinheiro

Ariadna is a multisport journalist specialized in delivering key, high-value information across competitions, including tournament formats, rules, lineups and injury updates, while also producing evergreen content. Her career in journalism began in 2021 at Indie Emergente, a digital music magazine, where she honed her skills in writing and reporting. In 2023, she expanded her expertise by contributing to Spoiler Latinoamerica, creating general culture content, before joining Spoiler US in 2024 to focus on entertainment coverage. With almost six years of experience across different media outlets, Ariadna has developed strong expertise at the intersection of sports and entertainment, covering live events such as Super Bowls, FIFA World Cup opening and closing ceremonies, Olympic Games and UEFA Champions League finals, bringing depth, accuracy and real-time insight to her reporting.