First NFL Game in Rio de Janeiro
RIO DE JANEIRO — When it comes to attendance records in Brazil, the Maracanã Stadium is always a hot topic. Known for hosting World Cup Finals in 1950 and 2014, this iconic venue welcomed the NFL for the first time with a game between the Dallas Cowboys and Baltimore Ravens.
And it truly was an unforgettable night.
With an impressive crowd of 72,792, a record for Maracanã, the Ravens drew more fans, even though it was technically a “home” game for the Cowboys. For some reason, they just seemed to connect with the Rio crowd better.
Brandon Aubrey and Javonte Williams of Dallas took the lead, but the Ravens quickly regained control thanks to Derrick Henry and Tyler Loop. The locals cheered loudly for Baltimore, chanting “Let’s go Ravens,” and had a lively halftime with a 24-13 advantage, singing “Evidencias,” which is sort of Brazil’s version of “Sweet Caroline.”
Yet, even in a Raven-supporting crowd, there was no holding back the cheers for Jake Ferguson’s touchdown that put the Cowboys ahead in the third quarter. Fans were there for the touchdowns—entertainment was key.
In a country famous for “Joga Bonito,” known for its beautiful soccer, fans surprised many by shouting “Defense! Defense!” It might seem odd, but I suppose that’s the NFL vibe taking hold.
As the game neared its climax, with the Cowboys tying the score with just seven seconds remaining, the Ravens snatched victory with a last-second field goal.
“No apagar das luzes,” they say in Brazil, which translates to “When the lights were about to go off.”
It was a tough loss for the Cowboys in what was supposed to be their home game, but ultimately a triumph for local fans. Six decades after the stadium witnessed the tears of disheartened fans from Brazil’s 1950 World Cup Final defeat to Uruguay, this time those tears were of happiness.
For a few hours, the NFL felt genuinely Brazilian, and the night was all about enjoying the show.
The NFL has made its mark in Rio de Janeiro, but this wasn’t the first football match held at Maracanã. Back in the 1950s, Miami Jackson High School played there after being invited by a Brazilian radio association. Similar to the recent NFL experiences, a successful first trip in São Paulo led to this match in Rio.
Maracanã was the venue where, years before, locals felt disbelief when the World Cup ended badly for them. On July 11, 1954, a friendly game ended in a 21-21 draw, and much of the newspaper coverage that followed focused more on why the American players looked different and why their goalposts resembled a giant letter H.
From a commercial perspective, the NFL’s debut in Cidade Maravilhosa was a hit. Transitioning from the largest city in the southern hemisphere to Rio meant filling a bigger stadium—25,000 more seats than previous games at Neo Quimica Arena—and they succeeded.
Let’s hope it doesn’t take another 72 years for football to return to Maracanã.
