Overview
- On Sunday, Sept. 27, NFL field director Nick Pappas signed off on the Maracanã pitch as meeting measurable safety and compliance standards and allowed the Cowboys‑Ravens game to proceed.
- Crews used a large GrassMaster‑style stitching machine, applied synthetic fibers, and performed manual trimming to reinforce loose, patchy areas before independent specialists tested the turf.
- NFL Players Association executive director JC Tretter said union experts found the field needed better traction and stability, recommended reinforced stitching, and said they would continue to monitor conditions through kickoff.
- Concerns grew after Flamengo players publicly complained about bumps on the pitch on Sept. 17 and videos showed grassless spots and players testing the surface in the days before the game.
- The episode highlights a wider problem for the NFL’s international plans because climate, heavy local soccer use, and local grounds resources make it hard to guarantee uniform, NFL‑grade playing surfaces abroad.