The Dallas Cowboys are heading south-way south.
For just the second time in franchise history, the Cowboys will play a regular-season game outside of the United States. This time, they’re taking their talents to Brazil. The NFL announced that Dallas will be part of its first-ever game in Rio de Janeiro during the 2026 season, marking a historic moment not just for the Cowboys, but for the league’s growing international footprint.
We don’t yet know who their opponent will be or the exact date, but the destination is set: Rio, a city known for its passion, energy, and now, NFL football.
This won’t be the Cowboys’ first international rodeo. Their only previous trip came back in 2014, when they faced off against the Jaguars in London and came away with a win.
But Rio represents a whole new stage-South America’s first NFL regular-season game featuring one of the league’s most iconic franchises. If you’re going to introduce pro football to a new market, sending “America’s Team” is about as big as it gets.
The Rio game is just one piece of a much larger puzzle. The NFL is planning nine international games in 2026, a clear sign that the league’s global ambitions are only accelerating.
Along with Rio, the schedule includes three games in London and one each in Melbourne, Mexico City, Madrid, Paris, and Munich. That’s a truly global slate, and it speaks to the NFL’s commitment to expanding its reach far beyond U.S. borders.
For the Cowboys, this is more than just a road game-it’s a branding opportunity, a chance to connect with fans across an entirely new continent. And for the league, it’s another step toward making NFL Sundays a worldwide tradition.
So while we wait for the schedule to drop and the matchup to be revealed, one thing’s already clear: the Cowboys are going international again, and this time, they’re bringing the star to South America.