Watching a soccer match at Maracanã is one of the experiences visitors to Rio remember most. There are two things worth knowing before you go: each club sells its tickets through its own channel and, at the big stadiums, entry is by facial recognition. If you arrive with your registration done and the right ID, all that's left is to enjoy it.
At a glance
- Where to buy: only through the official channel of the home club.
- Facial registration: do it before the match, on the platform the club specifies.
- ID: bring the original photo ID; clubs do not accept digital versions.
- Getting there: metro, Line 2, Maracanã and São Cristóvão stations.
- If there's no match: the stadium offers an official tour.
Who plays and where
Flamengo and Fluminense usually play their home games at Maracanã; always confirm the stadium in each match announcement. Botafogo plays at the Estádio Nilton Santos (Engenho de Dentro) and Vasco at São Januário. If your trip coincides with a derby, follow the club's ticket sale announcement as soon as the date is confirmed: members usually get priority.
How to buy your ticket
Each club posts ticket sale information on its website, match by match. These are the official channels listed in their recent announcements:
- Flamengo: sells "exclusively" through ingressos.flamengo.com.br ↗. Biometrics are registered in advance on the club's site. For the match against Corinthians in September 2026, prices ranged from R$ 35 to R$ 800 depending on section and membership plan.
- Fluminense: general public through FutebolCard, with facial biometrics mandatory in all sections. Buying requires a physical photo ID; foreigners can use a passport or national ID card (DNI) (club announcement ↗).
- Botafogo: sells through its official site using the Ingresse system and requires facial biometrics for everyone, including children under 12 (club announcement ↗).
Be wary of resale on social media or at the gate: with biometric entry, a ticket bought in someone else's name may not work for you.
Facial registration, step by step
Fluminense explains that biometrics are required by the Lei Geral do Esporte ↗, which mandates them at stadiums with more than 20,000 seats. For foreigners without a CPF, the club said you can enter your passport instead of the CPF ↗. Register well ahead of time, not in the stadium line, and bring the same ID you used to register.
Getting to Maracanã
The simplest way is the metro. The stadium is on Line 2; if you're coming from the South Zone, Line 1 shares track with Line 2 between Botafogo and Central. According to MetrôRio ↗, Maracanã station serves gates A, B, and C, and São Cristóvão station serves gates D, E, and F: check which gate is on your ticket and get off at the closest station.
The metro runs Monday to Saturday from 5 a.m. to midnight and on Sundays and holidays from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. Check the station entrances ↗, because not all of them open every day. The station also connects with TrensRJ commuter trains, which replaced SuperVia. For the rest of your trips, see getting around Rio.
What you can't bring in
The lists change depending on the tournament. For Conmebol matches, Fluminense warned that flares, flags on poles, selfie sticks, and umbrellas ↗ are not allowed, nor are shirts or flags of other South American clubs or national teams. If you're traveling with your Argentine team's jersey, leave it at the hotel. Bring as little as possible and read the rules in your match's announcement.
The stadium tour
If there's no match during your dates, the official tour ↗ takes you through the locker rooms, tunnel, and stands. The meeting point is Av. Rei Pelé, Portão 2, and tickets are sold online. The site lists different hours on different pages and closes for events, so confirm that day's hours before you go.
Frequently asked questions
Can I buy a ticket without a CPF?
It depends on the club. Fluminense accepts a passport or national ID card (DNI) for foreigners. For the others, check the match announcement or write to the club before your trip.
How early should I arrive?
With time to spare: biometric entry and the lines take a while. Fluminense notes that the gates close when the second half begins.
Is it safe to go to a match?
Take the precautions you would at any large event: carry little, get around by metro, and don't hang around after the match. You'll find more tips in Rio safety.
Sources: official sites of Flamengo ↗, Fluminense ↗, Botafogo ↗, MetrôRio ↗, and Tour Maracanã ↗, consulted on September 28, 2026.