Full Breakdown
Cowboys Treat Brazil Stop as a Business Trip Ahead of Ravens Clash
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event: Practice Sessions in Rio de Janeiro
The Dallas Cowboys arrived in Rio de Janeiro on Friday after roughly 10-hour flights and began preparations for their Sunday game against the Baltimore Ravens. The team practiced at Flamengo’s training grounds, located about 26 miles west of Sugarloaf Mountain, while the Ravens used Botafogo’s facilities. Both squads will tour the historic Maracanã Stadium on Saturday before the contest, which marks the NFL’s ninth international game of the 2026 season.
Logistics and Context
The NFL’s presence in Brazil began in 2024, with the first two games held at São Paulo’s 48,000-seat NeoQuimica Arena. This Rio matchup is the first NFL contest staged in the city, and some tickets for Sunday’s game remain unsold. Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer, coaching his first international game, emphasized that the trip will feel “like a business trip,” noting limited free time for sightseeing. Quarterback Dak Prescott, playing his inaugural international game, said the team expects to be fully rested by Saturday morning and highlighted the extra day for “massaging the game plan.”
Official Statements & Responses
Schottenheimer told players early that the schedule would be tight and that the focus must remain on preparation rather than tourism. Prescott echoed this sentiment, stating the group is in “strictly business trip” mode, while also expressing personal enthusiasm for Rio’s attractions, including a desire to see the Christ the Redeemer statue and sampling local steak.
Verbatim Quotes
- “It’s a little bit different from other road games,” — Brian Schottenheimer, coaching in his first international game as the Cowboys’ head coach
- “It is a place I want to return to as a tourist,” — Schottenheimer. Quarterback Dak Prescott
- “What we are looking for is a win.” — Schottenheimer. Quarterback Dak Prescott
- “This is a first for the majority of the team,” — Schottenheimer. Quarterback Dak Prescott