BRAZIL · TENNIS GUIDE
Key Facts
- —Date Saturday, 12 December 2026, when Carlos Alcaraz plays João Fonseca in the São Paulo Super Match, an exhibition rematch of their December 2025 meeting in Miami.
- —Venue Nubank Parque, the former Allianz Parque and home of the Palmeiras football club, at Avenida Francisco Matarazzo 1705 in the Água Branca district of São Paulo.
- —Start time Gates open at 2 p.m. and play starts at 5 p.m. São Paulo time, which is noon and 3 p.m. US Eastern, because Brazil no longer uses daylight saving time.
- —Tickets Eventim is the official seller, online and at the stadium’s Box Office A, and it listed tickets as available on 15 October 2026, with up to six per order.
- —Prices Full-price seats run from BRL 300 (about US$60) in the upper south stand to BRL 6,450 (about US$1,280) courtside, and half-price tickets start at BRL 150 (about US$30).
- —How to watch in the US No US television or streaming partner had been announced by 15 October 2026, and no broadcaster had been named for any country, including Brazil.
- —Power Index Brazil ranks 1st of 14 in The Rio Times Latin America Power Index, with 75.0 points (October 2026 edition).
- —What it means for you US citizens need a Brazilian visa approved before travel, and the State Department rates Brazil at Level 2, exercise increased caution, so book early and plan your transport.
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Carlos Alcaraz and João Fonseca meet again in December, this time in a São Paulo football stadium. Here is what US fans need to know about tickets, times, travel and the open questions.
Carlos Alcaraz, the Spanish world No. 3, plays Brazil’s João Fonseca at Nubank Parque in São Paulo on Saturday, 12 December 2026. The São Paulo Super Match is an exhibition, and play starts at 5 p.m. local time, or 3 p.m. US Eastern.
Eventim, the official ticket seller, still listed seats as available on 15 October, with full prices from about US$60 to US$1,280. For US fans, the trip also means a Brazilian visa approved in advance and a long flight south.
Why This Rematch Matters to US Fans
Alcaraz won the Australian Open on 1 February 2026, beating Novak Djokovic in the final to complete a career Grand Slam. The ATP Tour, which runs the men’s professional circuit, called him the youngest man in the Open Era to do so.
A wrist injury kept him out from the Barcelona Open in April until the US Open in late August. He won his first title since then in Tokyo on Tuesday, 6 October, beating Jiri Lehecka of the Czech Republic 7-6, 6-4.
Fonseca stood 29th in the ATP rankings published on Monday, 5 October, while Alcaraz stood third. At Roland Garros in Paris this year, Fonseca beat Djokovic from two sets down and reached his first Grand Slam quarterfinal.
The pair played an exhibition at loanDepot park, the Miami Marlins’ baseball stadium, on Monday, 8 December 2025. Alcaraz won 7-5, 2-6, 10-8, with a match tiebreak in place of a third set, Jovem Pan reported.
The São Paulo rematch was announced on Monday, 22 December 2025, two weeks after the Miami match. Alcaraz said he was very excited to play in such an iconic stadium, InfoMoney, a Brazilian business site, reported.
For US fans, it is a chance to see the reigning Australian Open champion against a Brazilian star in a football arena. It falls in the off-season, after the ATP Finals in Turin, Italy, for which Alcaraz has already qualified.
Schedule in São Paulo and US Eastern Time
The official event page sets a 5 p.m. start on Saturday, 12 December, with gates opening at 2 p.m. local time. Organisers have listed no other matches or guests on the bill so far.
São Paulo stays three hours behind UTC all year, because Brazil ended daylight saving time by decree in April 2019. US clocks fall back on Sunday, 1 November 2026, so Eastern Standard Time will apply on match day.
That puts the 5 p.m. start at 3 p.m. in New York and noon in Los Angeles. The 2 p.m. gate opening is noon on the US East Coast.
The match format has not been published, so its likely length is unclear. In Miami, a 10-point match tiebreak replaced a full third set, but no such rule has been announced for São Paulo.
How to Buy São Paulo Super Match Tickets
Eventim, the official seller, sells tickets on its Brazilian website and at Box Office A of Nubank Parque. The box office is at Rua Palestra Itália 200, Gate A, in the Perdizes district.
It opens Tuesday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. local time, except on holidays and event days. Processing fees apply at the box office unless you pay in cash.
A presale for Itaú bank customers began on Tuesday, 1 September, and general sale opened on Thursday, 3 September. That was a new sales round, after a first batch went on sale on 23 and 24 December 2025.
Full-price tickets start at BRL 300 (about US$60) in the upper south stand, the Arquibancada Superior Sul. Seats in the upper tier cost BRL 950 (about US$188), the official listing shows.
Lower-tier seats cost BRL 1,950 (about US$387) or BRL 2,450 (about US$486), depending on the zone. Hot Seat packages cost BRL 4,450 (about US$883), including a BRL 2,000 (about US$397) service fee.
Courtside and Itaú Baseline Seats cost BRL 6,450 (about US$1,280), including BRL 2,950 (about US$585) in fees. The Hot Seat, courtside and baseline packages include an open bar and food.
The event page also sells a Nagairô package with a Japanese dining experience from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. local time. It has a single price of BRL 4,500 (about US$893), with no half-price option.
Half-price tickets, called meia-entrada, start at BRL 150 (about US$30), but only groups set by Brazilian law qualify. These include students, people aged 60 or over, people with disabilities and some low-income young people.
General-sale orders are limited to six tickets, including no more than two at half price. Children aged 15 or under must attend with a parent or guardian, while 16- and 17-year-olds may attend alone.
Buy only from Eventim or the box office, and avoid resellers on social media or outside the stadium. Tickets from strangers may be fake, cloned or already used.
Brazilian tickets are charged in reais, so a US card may add a foreign transaction fee. Keep the order confirmation and the card used for the purchase until after the match.
How to Watch in the US
No US broadcaster or streaming service had been announced for the São Paulo Super Match by 15 October 2026. The official event page names no broadcaster for any country, including Brazil.
In Brazil, the Miami exhibition in December 2025 aired on the pay channel SporTV and streamed on Globoplay, MKT Esportivo reported. No deal for the São Paulo rematch has been made public yet.
US viewers should follow the official accounts of both players, the event’s producer 30e and Eventim for any announcement. A stream would start around 3 p.m. Eastern on Saturday, 12 December, if one is offered.
Getting to Nubank Parque
Nubank Parque is the new name of Allianz Parque, the Palmeiras stadium in the Água Branca district west of downtown. Nubank, the Brazilian digital bank, announced the name on Monday, 4 May 2026, after a public vote.
The main rail link is Palmeiras-Barra Funda station, on Metro Line 3-Red, which also serves suburban trains and an intercity bus terminal. Viaje na Viagem, a Brazilian travel site, puts it about 800 metres from the stadium, or up to 15 minutes on foot.
The site advises leaving the station by the Avenida Auro Soares de Moura Andrade exit and walking toward Avenida Francisco Matarazzo. A bus corridor on Francisco Matarazzo also has a stop in front of the arena.
The stadium has about 1,500 parking spaces, bookable in advance through the operator Estapar, the travel site says. Two neighbouring shopping malls, Bourbon and West Plaza, also sell parking, the site adds.
Most flights from the United States land at São Paulo/Guarulhos International Airport, in a neighbouring city north-east of São Paulo. Allow plenty of time for the trip into the city, and avoid a flight that lands on match day.
Safety, Visas and Costs for Visitors
The US State Department rates Brazil at Level 2, “exercise increased caution,” in an advisory dated 31 August 2026. It warns of urban violent crime, including armed robbery, and of express kidnappings that force victims to withdraw or transfer cash.
The advisory tells visitors not to resist a robbery, to watch their drinks and to use ATMs in secure places. Keep phones out of sight in the crowds around the stadium and on the metro after the match.
US citizens need a visa approved before they travel to Brazil, the State Department says. The Rio Times Brazil visa guide for US citizens explains the electronic visa, its cost and the steps.
The State Department also asks for one blank passport page for each entry and exit stamp. Check your passport’s expiry date before you apply for the visa.
December is summer in São Paulo, and the roof of Nubank Parque covers the stands but not the playing area. Bring a light rain jacket, because organisers have not said what happens if rain interrupts play.
Conversions in this guide use 5.04 reais per US dollar, the open.er-api.com rate on 15 October 2026. Budget for a ticket priced in reais plus card fees, metro fares and the visa.
What It Means for You
For US fans, the São Paulo Super Match offers Alcaraz against a home favourite, with full-price tickets from about US$60. It falls on a Saturday afternoon, so a long weekend in São Paulo can cover the trip.
Apply for the Brazilian visa first, then buy tickets only from Eventim or the stadium box office. Book flights and a hotel early, because the match falls in the busy run-up to the holidays.
Keep checking the official event page for the format, any broadcast deal and changes to the line-up. Exhibitions depend on both players being fit, and Fonseca has struggled with injuries in 2026.
What Is Not Known
No US or Brazilian broadcaster has been announced, and the match format and length have not been published. Organisers have also not said whether rain would delay the match or move it to another date.
Fonseca stepped away from the tour in September after back, wrist, shoulder and abdominal problems in 2026, the Folhapress news service reported. He set no return date, Gazeta Esportiva also reported, so his fitness for December is not yet clear.
It is not known how many seats remain in each zone, or whether the cheapest half-price tickets have sold out. Organisers have not said whether any other matches or guests will be added to the programme.
Connected Coverage
The Rio Times São Paulo city guide covers neighbourhoods, transport and costs for visitors. For this month’s events, see What to Do in São Paulo in October 2026.
Fans planning ahead can read What to Do in São Paulo in November 2026. The profile João Fonseca, the Teen Star Reshaping Brazil’s Tennis Business looks at his commercial impact at home.
Frequently Asked Questions
When and where is Alcaraz vs Fonseca in São Paulo?
Carlos Alcaraz plays João Fonseca at Nubank Parque in São Paulo on Saturday, 12 December 2026. Play starts at 5 p.m. local time, which is 3 p.m. US Eastern.
How much are tickets for the São Paulo Super Match?
Full-price tickets on Eventim run from BRL 300 (about US$60) to BRL 6,450 (about US$1,280) courtside. Half-price tickets from BRL 150 (about US$30) are reserved for groups set by Brazilian law, such as students.
How can I watch Alcaraz vs Fonseca in the US?
No US broadcaster or stream had been announced by 15 October 2026. If coverage is added, the match would start at 3 p.m. Eastern on Saturday, 12 December.
Do US citizens need a visa to attend the match in Brazil?
Yes, US citizens need a Brazilian visa approved before travel, according to the US State Department. Brazil offers an electronic visitor visa, so apply several weeks before the trip.
Sources: Eventim, São Paulo Super Match; Eventim, event page; ATP Tour, Tokyo final; ATP Tour, Australian Open final; ATP rankings; Roland Garros, Fonseca v Djokovic; Roland Garros, Fonseca v Ruud; InfoMoney; Jovem Pan; MKT Esportivo; Bem Paraná (Folhapress); Gazeta Esportiva; Lance!; Let’s Money; Viaje na Viagem; US State Department, Brazil travel advisory and entry requirements; Consulate General of Brazil in Miami, e-Visa; Decree 9,772 of 2019; Law 12,933 of 2013; Statute of Older Persons; open.er-api.com exchange rates (all accessed 15 October 2026).
This article was produced by The Rio Times’ automated newsroom system. How we use AI · Report an error · Editorial responsibility: Matthias Camenzind, Editor-in-Chief
Living in or visiting São Paulo? See this month's events and our São Paulo city guide with rents, safety and upcoming concerts.