RIO DE JANEIRO -- Workers were still trimming the turf at Maracana Stadium on Saturday, less than 30 hours before the NFL's first game in Rio de Janeiro, which is between the Dallas Cowboys and the Baltimore Ravens.
Some were using scissors to level the high grass, an effort that should end hours before the game.
The Maracana's turf has been a concern for almost two weeks due to its poor shape amid a long season in Brazilian soccer. Local clubs, Flamengo and Fluminense, play there at least once a week.
Maracana workers were using mows and scissors, big and small, to perfect the turf for the game.
On Friday, the executive director of the NFL Players Association said both the NFL and the players' union have had experts monitoring the field conditions for Sunday's game. The union's experts are worried about loose turf leading to too much slipping.