Students from the municipal school system attended the NFL game at Maracanã.

The Municipal Education Department (SME) took 2.500 students and 500 professionals from the education network to watch the NFL Rio Game 2026. Photo: Thiago Trindade

The Municipal Education Department of Rio de Janeiro took 2.500 students and 500 professionals from the city's education network to watch the NFL Rio Game 2026, a game in the American football championship that took place on Sunday, September 27th, at the Maracanã stadium. Most of the invited students are from the city's Olympic Educational Gymnasiums (GEOs).

GEOs are full-time schools focused on sports, integrating academic training with sports practice, with an emphasis on the development of the student-athlete-citizen.

The initiative was an opportunity for students to learn about a new sport and have a different experience, broadening their horizons and exposing them to other sports. To ensure the students' participation, the Municipal Department of Education provided transportation and snacks for the guests.

"It was the NFL's first time in Rio, and our students were there, experiencing firsthand (and for the first time!) this moment that went down in the history of sports in the city. Education is also about this: opening doors, broadening horizons, and showing that the world fits within our schools. An unforgettable day!" celebrated the Secretary of Education, Hugo Nepomuceno.

This was the first time an NFL (National Football League) game had taken place in the city of Rio de Janeiro, and the first time many students had been to the Maracanã stadium. The game between the Baltimore Ravens and the Dallas Cowboys thrilled and energized the entire city.