Pedro Sampaio and Ricky Martin Set for NFL Rio Game Halftime Show
Brazilian funk and Latin pop will take center stage when the Ravens and Cowboys meet at Maracanã Stadium on Sept. 27.
RIO DE JANEIRO — The NFL is bringing a distinctly Latin sound to Rio de Janeiro this fall.
Brazilian DJ and producer Pedro Sampaio and global music star Ricky Martin will headline the halftime performance at the 2026 NFL Rio Game, when the Baltimore Ravens face the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday, Sept. 27, at Maracanã Stadium.
The game is scheduled for 4:25 p.m. ET (5:25 p.m. local time) and will air in the United States on CBS and Paramount+, with NFL+ available on mobile.
The performance will mark the second of a record seven halftime shows presented by American Express across the NFL's 2026 international games.
This year's international schedule features a record nine regular-season games across four continents, seven countries and eight stadiums, with new markets including Rio de Janeiro, Melbourne and Paris.
Rio Gets Its First NFL Regular-Season Game
The halftime show adds another layer to what is already a historic night for Rio.
The Ravens-Cowboys matchup will be the first NFL regular-season game ever played in Rio de Janeiro, moving the league's Brazilian presence beyond São Paulo, which hosted games in 2024 and 2025.
The NFL announced a multiyear commitment to play at least three regular-season games in Rio over five years, signaling the league's continued investment in Brazil.
Brazil has more than 36 million NFL fans, making it one of the league's largest international markets.
For the league, bringing the NFL to Maracanã is about more than football. The venue is one of the most recognizable stadiums in the world, and the NFL's decision to pair the game with two major Latin music performers reflects the broader cultural reach the league is pursuing internationally.
Pedro Sampaio Brings Brazilian Funk to the Maracanã
For Sampaio, performing at Maracanã carries a particularly personal significance.
The Rio native grew up seeing the stadium as one of the city's defining landmarks and will now perform on its field during the first NFL regular-season game in his hometown.
Sampaio has become one of the leading figures in contemporary Brazilian funk, blending funk with pop and electronic music.
According to the NFL, he has accumulated more than 14 billion audio and video streams and more than 10 million monthly Spotify listeners. He was nominated for a Latin Grammy in 2024 and has collaborated with artists including Anitta, Pabllo Vittar, J Balvin and Nicky Jam.
His international performance résumé includes Lollapalooza, Rock in Rio, Coca-Cola Flow Fest in Mexico and LIV Nightclub in Miami.
Now, one of his biggest stages will be in his hometown.
“Maracanã is part of the history of both sports and music,” Sampaio said in the announcement. “Being part of this moment—especially at the first NFL game in my hometown—is something I'll carry with me for the rest of my life.”
The performance also represents a significant moment for Brazilian funk, a genre that has increasingly moved from Brazil's local music scene onto international stages.
Ricky Martin Returns to Another NFL Stage
Sampaio will be joined by Ricky Martin, one of the most recognizable figures in Latin music.
Martin has sold more than 95 million albums worldwide during a career spanning more than three decades. His music played a significant role in bringing Latin pop to mainstream audiences around the world.
The Puerto Rican superstar has won two Grammy Awards and four Latin Grammy Awards, among numerous other honors.
His connection to the NFL is also fresh.
Martin appeared as a special guest during Super Bowl LX's halftime show, joining Bad Bunny for a performance in front of a massive television audience.
Now, months later, he will return to an NFL stage — this time in Rio.
“There’s nothing quite like the energy of the Brazilian people,” Martin said. “I can’t wait to reunite with our fans and perform live at the iconic Maracanã.”
For Martin, the appearance also brings him back to a country with which he has maintained a strong connection throughout his career.
A Halftime Show Built for Rio
The pairing of Sampaio and Martin gives the NFL an opportunity to connect two generations and two sides of Latin music.
Sampaio represents the current global rise of Brazilian funk, while Martin brings decades of international Latin pop influence.
That combination fits the larger strategy surrounding the NFL's international expansion.
Tim Tubito, the league's senior director of global game presentation, music and entertainment, said the performers each have strong connections with audiences throughout Brazil, Latin America and beyond.
The goal, he said, is to create a performance that reflects Rio's energy and culture.
The NFL's Luis Martinez, general manager of NFL Brazil, called the event an opportunity to celebrate the first regular-season game in Rio while bringing together two artists with major connections to Brazilian fans.
Seven Halftime Shows Across the NFL's International Schedule
The Rio performance is part of the NFL's largest international schedule to date.
The 2026 season will feature nine international regular-season games, including:
Melbourne, Australia: 49ers vs. Rams
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil: Ravens vs. Cowboys
London, England: Three games
Paris, France: Steelers vs. Saints
Madrid, Spain: Bengals vs. Falcons
Munich, Germany: Patriots vs. Lions
Mexico City, Mexico: Vikings vs. 49ers
The NFL says 2026 will mark the first regular-season games in Melbourne, Rio de Janeiro and Paris.
The league has now played 62 regular-season games outside the United States, with international contests previously held in cities including London, Berlin, Munich, Frankfurt, Madrid, Dublin, São Paulo, Mexico City and Toronto.
The international expansion gives the NFL another way to introduce American football to new audiences while incorporating local culture into the game-day experience.
A Historic Night for Football and Music
When the Ravens and Cowboys take the field at Maracanã, the game itself will make history.
But the NFL is clearly building the night around more than football.
With Sampaio representing Rio's contemporary music scene and Martin bringing decades of international Latin pop influence, the halftime show is positioned as a celebration of the culture surrounding the NFL's arrival in the city.
For Sampaio, it is a homecoming.
For Martin, it is another appearance on one of sports' biggest stages.
And for the NFL, it is another step in an international strategy that continues to take the league into new cities and new audiences.
Rio's first NFL game will have a distinctly Brazilian soundtrack.
