How to Watch a Soccer Game in Rio de Janeiro

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

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

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Rio de Janeiro Football Match Tickets

Ticket to see a soccer match in Rio de Janeiro

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

From $144 at Hellotickets

This guided tour is a very comfortable way to watch a soccer 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 the transportation to watch a match in Rio de Janeiro in a comfortable way.

The cost of a ticket to watch a soccer 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 soccer tournament, or a friendly of the national team.

As for children under 12 years old, people over 65 years old and people with disabilities, they can always watch the matches for free. There are also discounted tickets for city students, people aged 60 to 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 or another. You can enjoy soccer 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.

Local matches in Rio de Janeiro may be played in one of its two main stadiums, the Maracanã and the Olympic Stadium Nilton Santos, or in other stadiums in the city. The Maracana and the Nilton Santos are two very modern stadiums in line with the level of play of the Brazilian soccer teams, which also usually host some soccer matches of international championships.

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. Keep in mind 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 the soccer clubs in Rio de Janeiro, since members have access to greater discounts. In addition, stadiums offer half-price tickets for city students, seniors aged 60 to 64 and teachers from local schools.

Soccer matches in Rio de Janeiro are massive events where, depending on your location in the stadium and the match you are going to watch, you will have to queue to get in. However, the entrance to the stadiums are very well organized and are done through several gates, so you will not spend much time queuing.

On the other hand, if you want to buy a ticket without queues, 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 see a soccer 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. It is possible that this is due to the fact that the prices of tickets to soccer 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 tourist passes of the city is the tour to see the Maracana stadium, 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 soccer championships that have been played there.

The Maracana Stadium is one of the most visited attractions in the city. During 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 soccer in Rio de Janeiro.

No, tickets to watch a soccer match in Rio de Janeiro do not include a guided tour of the stadiums, but are activities that are contracted separately. In general, the guided tours to the stadiums take place during the day, between 9 am and 4 pm approximately, but this schedule 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 tour or on your own at the Maracana Stadium and the Olympic Stadium Nilton Santos, which are the stadiums where international tournaments are played. There you can learn about their history, see trophies and photographs of outstanding events in this sport, and see all the facilities of the soccer stadiums.

If you are not a soccer fan, you may also find it interesting to visit some of the best soccer 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 soccer matches that have marked their history.

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

On the other hand, fans of the different local soccer teams also have benefits for being members of their favorite teams, which consist of discounted tickets for local and national tournament matches, in addition to other benefits.

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

Buying tickets online is more convenient and will be faster for you, as you will not waste time at the stadium box office to buy them. To do so, you may have to register first at the official websites of the soccer stadiums, such as the Maracana Stadium or the Nilton Santos Olympic Stadium.

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

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

Another option is to hire a guided tour, as it includes entrance without queues and pick up and return to 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 soccer 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 soccer 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 soccer match. Please note that soccer 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 locker room, the press room and the soccer field, which has a capacity for about 80,000 people. You will also be able to see the stadium's Walk of Fame, where the most renowned soccer players, 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 9 am to 4 pm approximately, which is the time when you can take tours of the stadium, both guided and on your own.

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

The tours, both guided and self-guided, usually last about an hour and include visits to all the stadium facilities, such as the soccer field, the locker room and the press room. They also include entrance to the Athletes' Hall, where you will see the icons and historical symbols of Botafogo, the stadium's local soccer team.

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

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

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

To find out about all the soccer 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 soccer match in Rio de Janeiro.

To watch a soccer match in Rio de Janeiro it is important that you take into account some recommendations, so 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 soccer match of an international tournament, or of very famous teams.
• Arrive two hours before: many people, both locals and tourists, attend soccer games, so it is important that you arrive in time, so you can enter the stadium and find your seat with peace of mind.
• Check transportation schedules: if you take the subway or bus, be sure to check the schedules, especially if the games end late. Usually, the subway stops running around midnight, so you should look for another alternative (such as cab or Uber) if the game ends later.
• Check tournament schedules on sports websites: this will allow you to know the matches being played during your stay, as well as the days, times and the stadium where they are being played. For example, the Maracana is home to two teams, Flamengo and Fluminense. A page where you can check it out is ESPN.
• If you buy your ticket online, keep in mind that you may have to ask for a physical ticket at the box office to get in, so you should also go early.
• The view is not usually better in the seats closest to the field of play, but in the middle seats. Seats at the ends of each sector are usually quieter than those in the middle.
• Avoid wearing the colors of the soccer teams that will be playing the game you are attending.