The Night I Watched the Seleção at the Sacred Maracanã: South American Qualifiers, Brazil vs. Chile
My dream has finally come true.
I experienced watching a Brazil national team (Seleção) match live at the "sacred" Maracanã.
This time, it was a South American World Cup qualifier: Brazil vs. Chile.
I've compiled a realistic account of my experience to help those considering watching a match in person, covering everything from how easy it is to get tickets to entry, watching the game, and the "pitfalls on the way home" that you need to be aware of!
✅ Tickets were easy to get, but the kickoff time is late!
However, it's hard to buy them because the site is only in Portuguese. Also, you can only pay with credit or debit cards issued in Brazil. The process until you actually buy them is a bit complicated.
Kickoff is at 9:30 PM.
A very late kickoff is a characteristic of Seleção matches. Plus, the match was held on a weekday.
Since this was a dead rubber match after they had already qualified for the World Cup, tickets were relatively easy to get.
✅ Arrived at the Maracanã around 6:00 PM
I arrived at the Maracanã early at 6:00 PM. As expected, the crowd was still sparse lol. However, I had a minor issue where "my facial recognition wouldn't go through!" so it was a good thing I went early.
If facial recognition doesn't work, you can show your passport and digital ticket (there is a dedicated app, but you can't download it unless you set your region to Brazil; I think you probably need to create a new Apple account specifically for Brazil to open it) and the staff will assist you.
✅ Are seats first-come, first-served? Entered 3 hours early
Although there are designated areas, seating is free.
I was able to enter 3 hours before the match, so I successfully secured a seat near the front.
The crowd starts to increase rapidly from about 30 minutes before, so if you want a front-row seat, acting early is essential.
✅ The match was a 3-0 comfortable win! Even saw the first Seleção goal!
Brazil defeated Chile 3-0 in a comfortable win.
I was moved to see the first national team goal by the much-talked-about young talent, Estêvão!
The excitement in the stadium was at its peak.
✅ Be careful on the way home! Getting an Uber is tough
The match ended late at night. The subway was running, but the area around my accommodation's nearest station felt a bit dangerous, so Uber was the only option.
However, the designated Uber pickup point was congested and I couldn't catch a car, so I ended up walking a few hundred meters to a safer-looking spot and finally succeeded in getting a ride.
Be careful, as it's hard to catch an Uber around Maracanã Station!
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✅ Safety inside the venue is high
However, you can't let your guard down outside the stadium.
There were a few staff members outside the stadium who spoke English, which was reassuring. Inside the venue, there might be few people who speak English.