How to Watch a Soccer Game in Rio de Janeiro

Brazil is one of the countries that has won the most world football championships in the world, and has produced some of the most outstanding football players in the sport. That's why watching a football match in the city is one of the best things to do in Rio de Janeiro, whether local or international.

Moreover, Rio de Janeiro is home to two of the best football stadiums in the world: the Maracana Stadium and the Olympic Stadium Nilton Santos. In both stadiums, as well as in other stadiums in the city, you will be able to enjoy the football display of the teams and cheer them on like a local. Here you will find the information you need to watch a football match in Rio de Janeiro and get caught up in the football passion of the locals.

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Rio de Janeiro Football Match Tickets

Ticket to watch a football match in Rio de Janeiro

Watch a football match in Rio de Janeiro accompanied by a local guide, and with the comfort of a round-trip transfer from your hotel.

From £106 at Hellotickets

This guided tour is a very comfortable way to watch a football match in Rio de Janeiro, as it includes transfers to and from the hotel. In addition, you will be accompanied by a local guide who will assist you at all times and can give you information about the tournaments so you can enjoy the match like the locals.

Recommended if you want to get a ticket without queues and have your transport to watch a match in Rio de Janeiro in a comfortable way.

The cost of a ticket to watch a football match in Rio de Janeiro varies according to the championship being played, the match, the stadium and the seat you choose. On average, a ticket can cost between 15 and 30 EUR per person, but it can be higher if the match is an international football tournament, or a friendly match of the national team.

Children under 12 years old, people over 65 years old and people with disabilities can always watch matches for free. Discounted tickets are also available for local students, people aged 60-64 and teachers from local schools, who receive a 40% discount on the ticket price.

It is important to find out which matches are being played during your stay, as you may have a preference for one match over another. You can enjoy football in Rio de Janeiro all year round, as a national championship is played from May to December in the city, and from January to April the state championships are played. In addition, international tournaments, such as the Copa Libertadores de America, are played between February and August in Rio de Janeiro and other cities.

Home matches in Rio de Janeiro can be played at either of its two main stadiums, the Maracana and the Olympic Stadium Nilton Santos, or at other stadiums in the city. The Maracana and the Nilton Santos are two very modern stadiums in line with the level of play of Brazilian football teams, which also often host some international championship football matches.

There are different types of tickets, and they vary especially according to the location of the seat and the amenities it offers. In general, the better the location, the higher the ticket price, and vice versa. Note that depending on the location you choose, you will have to enter the stadium through a different gate.

There are also different tickets for members and non-members of football clubs in Rio de Janeiro, as members get more discounts. In addition, stadiums offer half-price tickets for local students, seniors aged 60-64 and teachers from local schools.

Football matches in Rio de Janeiro are massive events where, depending on your location in the stadium and the match you are watching, you will have to queue to get in. However, the entrance to the stadiums are very well organised and there are several gates, so you won't have to queue for long.

On the other hand, if you want to buy a ticket without queuing, you can hire a tour with transfer included, as they usually offer this type of ticket. This way you will get in faster, because the companies already know the dynamics of the stadiums, the location of the seats and the best way to get there.

No, tickets to watch a football match in Rio de Janeiro are not included in any of the city's tourist passes, nor are they usually part of the city tours in Rio de Janeiro. This may be due to the fact that ticket prices for football matches vary greatly depending on the championship, the match, the stadium and the location you choose in the different sectors of the stands.

What is usually included in some city sightseeing passes is the Maracana stadium tour, which takes place during the day and at times when the matches are not being played. These tourist passes include an entrance ticket to the stadium for you to tour it on your own or a guided tour with a local expert, who can tell you about the history of the stadium and the football championships that have been played there.

The Maracana Stadium is one of the most visited attractions in the city. On the tour, which lasts about an hour, you can see trophies, the dressing room, the playing field, the press room and various objects representative of the history of the Maracana stadium and of football in Rio de Janeiro.

No, tickets to watch a football match in Rio de Janeiro do not include a guided tour of the stadiums, but are activities that are booked separately. In general, guided tours of the stadiums take place during the day, between 9am and 4pm approximately, but this timetable is reduced by about 4 hours on match days.

If you are a fan of this sport, you will definitely be interested in taking a guided or self-guided tour of the Maracana Stadium and the Olympic Stadium Nilton Santos, which are the stadiums where the international tournaments are played. Here you can learn about their history, see trophies and photographs of outstanding events in the sport, and get to know all the facilities of the football stadiums.

If you are not a football fan, you may also find it interesting to see some of the best football stadiums in the world that are located in Rio de Janeiro. In addition, a guided tour will give you a better understanding of what the sport means to the locals and you will learn many interesting facts about the stadiums and the football matches that have marked their history.

Yes, there are free tickets to watch a football match in Rio de Janeiro for children under 12 years old, people over 65 years old and people with disabilities. In addition, 40% discount tickets are available for students, people aged 60 to 64 and teachers from local schools.

On the other hand, fans of the different local football teams also have benefits for being members of their favourite teams, which consist of discounted tickets for local and national tournament matches, as well as other benefits.

However, tickets for local matches have a much lower value than tickets for international tournament matches such as the Copa America. In addition, there are seats to choose from in different sectors, the price of which varies according to location, so you can save money on the ticket by choosing a cheaper location.

Buying tickets online is more convenient and will be quicker for you, as you won't have to spend time at the stadium box office to buy them. To do this, you may first need to register on the official websites of the football stadiums, such as the Maracana Stadium or the Nilton Santos Olympic Stadium.

However, some of them may have problems verifying the details of foreigners and may not accept the registration. If this is the case, you can buy your ticket at the ticket office of the football stadiums or by phone.

Keep in mind that attending a football match is one of the most popular activities in Rio de Janeiro and that some matches can be very crowded. Therefore it is always best to buy your ticket in advance to ensure your seat, especially if there are famous teams playing or international tournaments.

Another option is to book a guided tour, which includes skip-the-line entry and pick-up and drop -off at your hotel. This is a good option if you prefer to be accompanied by a local guide and a group of people with whom you can share the experience of watching a football match in Rio de Janeiro like the locals.

The Maracana Stadium can be visited every day from 9.00 am to 5.00 pm approximately, when no football match is being played. In the event of a match being played, the stadium closes about 5 hours before the kick-off time of the football match. Please note that football matches are usually played on Wednesdays and weekends.

Tours can be guided or on your own and last approximately one hour. They include a tour of all the stadium facilities, such as the dressing room, the press room and the football pitch, which has a capacity of around 80,000 people. You will also see the stadium's Walk of Fame, where renowned footballers such as Pelé have left their footprints.

• Location: Rua Professor Eurico Rabelo, s/n, Maracanã, Rio de Janeiro.

The Nilton Santos Olympic Stadium is open from Monday to Friday from approximately 9am to 4pm, which is the time when you can take guided or self-guided tours of the stadium.

In general, these hours vary if a match is being played, as tours are usually suspended about 4 hours before the match. Football matches are usually played on Wednesdays and weekends.

The tours, both guided and self-guided, usually last approximately one hour and include visits to all the stadium facilities, such as the football pitch, the changing room and the press room. They also include entrance to the Athletes' Hall, where you will see the historical icons and symbols of Botafogo, the home team of this stadium.

• Location: R. José dos Reis, 425 - Engenho de Dentro, Rio de Janeiro.

In Rio de Janeiro you can watch a football match all year round, except from mid-December to mid-January, when there is a short break for the Christmas and New Year celebrations in Rio de Janeiro.

The first months of the year the local tournaments are played, and in June the national championships start. At the same time, international tournaments such as the Copa Libertadores and Copa Sudamericana take place. In addition, the Brazilian national team often plays friendlies at different times of the year, some of which may be played in Rio de Janeiro.

To find out about all the football matches being played in the city, it is best to check the schedules on sports websites or in local newspapers. This way you will know all the options you have to enjoy a football match in Rio de Janeiro.

To watch a football match in Rio de Janeiro it is important that you take into account some recommendations, so that you can make the most of this activity, which is one of the best things to do in Rio de Janeiro in 3 days or more.

• Buy your ticket in advance, especially if you are attending a football match of an international tournament, or of very famous teams.
• Arrive two hours before: many people, both locals and tourists, attend football matches, so it is important that you arrive in good time, so you can enter the stadium and find your seat at your leisure.
• Check transport timetables: If you are going by metro or bus, make sure you check the timetables, especially if the matches end late. The metro usually stops running around midnight, so you should look for an alternative (such as a taxi or Uber) if the game ends later.
• Check tournament schedules on sports websites: this will allow you to find out which matches are being played during your stay, as well as the days, times and stadium where they are being played. For example, the Maracana is home to two teams, Flamengo and Fluminense. One site where you can check is ESPN.
• If you buy your ticket online, keep in mind that you may have to ask for a physical ticket at the ticket office to get in, so you should also go early.
• The view is not usually better in the seats closest to the pitch, but in the middle seats. Seats at the far end of each section are usually quieter than those in the middle.
• Avoid wearing the colours of the football teams that will be playing the match you are attending.