Book
Date:
H
Location:
Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro
Stadium:
Estádio Olímpico Nilton Santos
Botafogo @ Estádio Nilton Santos
Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro
Food
Tickets
Bilingual Guide
Botafogo's history starts in 1904, and based in Rio de Janeiro is one of Brazil's historic teams, known for producing legends like Garrincha and Jairzinho and for its passionate fanbase. Known as "Fogão," Botafogo has a rich legacy and an exciting playing style that keeps fans on the edge of their seats.
Matchday with Botafogo is more than a game—it’s a celebration of football and Rio’s vibrant spirit. Whether it’s a tense match against local rivals or a big win celebrated by thousands, this is an experience that no soccer fan should miss.
Where we'll meet - Our group will meet in a convenient location in Rio de Janeiro to travel towards the club's stadium. Your bilingual guides will explain the context of Brazilian football, the day’s game and Botafogo's history. More importantly, they’ll let you know exactly what you need to do and be aware of to be one of the lucky few to gain entry into the Engenhão.
The Build-Up - We’ll do the previa (pre-match) at a local bar or in the streets of the Botafogo neighbourhood, mingling with other fans and learning their traditions. Your guide will accompany you in reduced groups (6-8 pax) to the correct entrance gate, through the squeeze of security controls and police checkpoints, and finally into the ground.
The Match - Through the turnstiles and up the stairs - Botafogo’s home, the Estádio Olímpico Nilton Santos Stadium (also called “Engenhão”), holds over 40,000 fans and is known for its incredible energy on matchday. Located in the Engenho de Dentro neighborhood, the stadium buzzes with excitement as Botafogo’s loyal fans, called “alvinegros,” cheer on their team with impressive chants and wave black-and-white flags. The atmosphere is electric from the moment you arrive, with supporters filling the stands and the sound of drums and cheers echoing throughout.
The Come-Down - The game is over but memories are forever. You’ll head back to the avenue and grab a bus or taxi with your guide, making sure you get back home safely.
Includes
- Beer/soft drink, and a burger/choripan 🍺🍔
- Match Ticket 🎟
-
Experience Bilingual Guide - to translate, answer your questions and keep everyone safe 😀
This experience includes public transportation.
What you need
- National Photo ID (not a copy/screenshot)
- Very casual clothing and comfortable footwear for walking/standing (dress-down!)
- Coats/jackets for the cold/rain
- You can bring your phone to take pictures
- Leave your valuables at home and travel light - no handbags, make-up, power banks, water bottles, lighters, umbrellas… these will be confiscated
- Some cash if you want to buy something extra as credit cards are not often accepted
- Your psyched-up self, it will be intense!
Important to know
- For some clubs, tickets are very hard to come by and are available exclusively to members, to sponsors, or can only be found through various levels of re-sale. For others, tickets are available but can only be bought in-person, with local ID/bank cards, or through various other inventive ways of wasting your time. We will make sure to find tickets for you and guarantee their authenticity.
- The access to the stadium is filled with different controls and security checks in which police and fans get mixed up, sometimes creating tension. Our expert guides have navigated these sites dozens of times, know the ins and outs, and can anticipate and handle these situations so you don’t have to.
- Many football fans in Brazil are not used to seeing tourists and barely speak English. In a way, this is what makes our experience truly authentic, and we will help with Portuguese so no language barriers affect your match-day.
- Many supporters will appreciate it if you show your support through your clothing, by wearing the club's merchandise like a shirt, beanie, jacket, etc. Dressing with the club colours will be fine, but if you want a jersey make sure to take a look at our store.
- Football in Brazil is an amazing subculture. Our expert guide will let you know everything you need about the context of the game, the history of the clubs, the traditional pre-game rituals, the meaning of the songs you will hear, the significance of the flags and symbols, and more.
- The chaos and unpredictability in Brazilian football are what makes it uniquely beautiful, and uniquely frustrating. The League often decides fixtures at the last moment, and changes can happen late on also. If this is the case, we will let you know in advance for you to make a decision according to your availability.
- Minimum group numbers (3) apply for the experience to go ahead - contact us if in doubt.