BootsnAll Travel Community

I'm heading to Rio de Janeiro in 2 and a half weeks and am looking to attend a football match that first weekend, on June 29. I was wondering what the best way to purchase football tickets in South America is. Is there a way to purchase them online in advance, or should I just show up at the stadium the day of? And how much do they normally cost?

Tickets go on sale the week of the game at Maracana. Price depends on who's playing and what section you choose. Popular games may be sold out by game day/ Tickets are also available at some team headquarters.

Bahiana,

The 2 games I'm looking to attend (both are in Rio) are Vasco da Gama-Ipatinga and Fluminense-Botafogo. Will the Fluminense game be held at Maracana because it is a derby match? I looked online and apparently its home stadium has a very small capacity. Which game would you recommend for the best atmosphere?

Check out exchange places on the main strip of the beach (NS Copacabana). Many have signs advertising tickets.

Hostels throw their own tours, but since the stadium is right off the subway line you don't need it.

I'm thinking about heading to Argentina, and am bit of a Boca fan. I thought about starting my own thread but I saw this and thought I'd ask basically the same things except in BA with Boca in mind obviously.

How hard are getting tickets (Like EPL hard or MLS easy) and how to?


Thanks!

Bloody good question imo.

In Both BA and Rio there isnt really any need to buy tickets in advance. If you get to the stadium a couple of hours early then there are usually plenty of tickets still on sale, failing that there are always the touts (though check the date etc on the ticket to make sure they are genuine, though i never had any problems with them and they are only marginally more expensive). Try and avoid tours from hostels as you will end up paying about 4 times the face value of the ticket. I saw Botafogo - Fluminense at the Maracana in April - probably the best atmosphere i've ever experienced anywhere in my life. Enjoy

I saw Flamengo vs. Vasco a couple of weeks ago at Maracana. It being a big game, it was basically sold out. If two Rio teams are playing, I would suggest going to one of the team's training field/office a couple days before the game. They will sell tickets there.