FRISCO, Texas — Brandon Aubrey spent about two weeks training with São Paulo FC as a boy, when his youth soccer club made a trip to Brazil. On Friday, nine days before the Dallas Cowboys play the Baltimore Ravens at Maracanã Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, the Cowboys kicker said he is approaching the game like any other.
The Sept. 27 matchup is the NFL’s first regular-season game in Rio de Janeiro. Dallas is the designated home team, and kickoff is set for 3:25 p.m. CT on CBS. The Cowboys last played a regular-season game outside the U.S. in 2014, when they beat the Jacksonville Jaguars 31-17 in London.
Brandon Aubrey Trained With São Paulo FC On Dallas Texans Trip
The trip came through the Dallas Texans, the youth club Aubrey played for from 2005 through 2013. The whole club went to Brazil, and the group also got to see Corinthians play.
“I did play soccer in Brazil,” Aubrey said. “I went over there when I was like 10 or 12, around that age, and trained with São Paulo FC. My whole club went over there, and we spent like two weeks and got to play or went to go watch Corinthians and São Paulo FC.”
Aubrey grew up in Plano and played at Plano Senior High before four seasons as a center back at Notre Dame. The Fighting Irish won the 2013 national championship in his freshman year. Toronto FC selected him with the 21st pick in the 2017 MLS SuperDraft. He played for Toronto FC II in 2017 and for Bethlehem Steel FC in 2018.
He follows the Brazilian national team, but not the club game.
“I’ve not followed Brazilian soccer,” Aubrey explained. “The national team, yes, not the club level.”
The Cowboys are scheduled to fly to Brazil on Thursday night. Aubrey could not say for certain whether his first trip there was a direct flight.
“I went to Denmark once, but we stopped in Germany,” Aubrey said. “When I went to Brazil as a kid, I think it was straight from DFW, but I’m not sure.”
The Denmark trip, which routed through Frankfurt, was also for soccer.
Brandon Aubrey Plans To Learn Maracanã Surface And Wind Before Ravens Game
Maracanã holds 78,000 and hosted the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2016 Olympics. Aubrey would rather take in the place after he has kicked there.
“I’m not too big about kind of making places into a big deal, especially before playing the game there,” Aubrey said. “Maybe look back in history after I played the game and then appreciate it. But for now, it’s a job. Got to go and figure it out and kick well there.”
On Thursday night, two Flamengo players criticized the Maracanã field after a 1-1 draw with Independiente del Valle. Flamengo is scheduled to host Red Bull Bragantino there Sunday, which leaves less than a week between the last soccer match and the NFL game.
The surface and the wind are what Aubrey wants to figure out in Rio.
“Any other game,” Aubrey said. “Figure out what the surface is like and the wind and what I need to do to make kicks. I’m not going to treat it any different.”
Aubrey signed a four-year, $28 million extension on April 20 that made him the highest-paid kicker in NFL history. The deal includes $20 million guaranteed.
He has made six career field goals of 60 yards or longer, the most in NFL history. Three of them came in 2025.
In the season opener, Aubrey made 2-of-3 extra points and did not attempt a field goal in the Cowboys’ 28-20 loss at the New York Giants. His miss came from 48 yards after a taunting penalty on Javonte Williams moved the try back.
Dallas hosts the Washington Commanders on Sunday at AT&T Stadium. Kickoff is 3:25 p.m. CT on FOX.
