With less than 30 hours remaining before the Dallas Cowboys face the Baltimore Ravens in Rio de Janeiro, workers were observed performing final maintenance on the Maracana Stadium pitch. The event marks the first time the NFL has played a game in Brazil, turning the historic venue—typically reserved for soccer—into a temporary gridiron.

While the stadium is iconic for its role in international soccer, the transition to an NFL-standard field has required significant logistical adjustments. The presence of maintenance crews on the turf so close to kickoff has drawn attention to the challenges of preparing the surface for professional football. Sky Sports reports that the work was still underway on Saturday, though there has been no official indication that the game schedule is at risk. The NFL has not yet released a formal statement regarding the condition of the turf or whether the ongoing work is part of a standard pre-game grooming process or a response to surface concerns.