BRAZIL · SPORT · RIO DE JANEIRO
Key Facts
- The match Botafogo host São Paulo in round 36 of 38 of the Brazilian league on Monday 23 November 2026.
- Where and when Nilton Santos Stadium, Rio de Janeiro; kick-off 8 p.m. in Rio, 6 p.m. US Eastern.
- Tickets The club sells through Ingresse, a Brazilian ticketing platform; this match was not yet listed on 30 October, and no prices are published.
- Watch in the US The league lists Amazon for Brazil; a US broadcaster is not confirmed.
- Power Index Brazil ranks 1st of 14 in The Rio Times Latin America Power Index, with 75.0 points (October 2026 edition).
Botafogo, a Rio de Janeiro club, play São Paulo, one of Brazil’s biggest clubs, at the Nilton Santos Stadium on Monday 23 November 2026. The league’s governing body, the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF), set the date, the 8 p.m. kick-off and the stadium in its detailed fixture list of 29 October 2026.
For US readers this is a Monday-evening game that starts at 6 p.m. Eastern, with the Brazilian league title and a place in next year’s South American cup competitions still being decided. Our guide to living in Rio de Janeiro covers the city beyond the stadium.
What the Match Is
The Campeonato Brasileiro Série A, usually called the Brasileirão, is Brazil’s top league, with 20 clubs that each play 38 games. This game is round 36, so only two rounds remain afterwards and every point can move a club between the title race, a South American cup place and the relegation fight.
The CBF fixture list shows Botafogo of Rio hosting São Paulo, a club from the city of the same name about 270 miles (430 km) away. The same round also holds Palmeiras against Flamengo on Saturday 21 November in São Paulo, which our Palmeiras vs Flamengo guide covers.
Standings change every week, so we do not quote a table here. Check the league table on the day you book, because the stakes for both clubs may look very different by 23 November.
The Clubs in Plain English
Botafogo are a Rio club that won South America’s top club competition, the Copa Libertadores, in 2024. Their home is the Nilton Santos Stadium, a municipal arena in the north zone of Rio that the club uses for league games.
São Paulo, often called São Paulo FC, are a club from Brazil’s largest city with three Libertadores titles. They usually play at the Morumbis stadium, and this trip to Rio is an away game for them.
Schedule in Rio and US Eastern Time
- Monday 23 November 2026, 8:00 p.m. in Rio de Janeiro (Brasilia time, UTC-3).
- Monday 23 November 2026, 6:00 p.m. US Eastern, 5:00 p.m. Central, 3:00 p.m. Pacific.
- Gates and exact opening times are not published yet.
Brazil does not use daylight saving time, and the United States has moved back to standard time on 1 November, so Rio is two hours ahead of New York on this date. The kick-off can still be moved by the CBF or the broadcaster, so check again in the week of the game.
How to Buy Tickets
Botafogo’s official ticket page, linked from the club’s own website, runs on the Ingresse platform at botafogo.ingresse.com. On Friday 30 October 2026 that page listed no event for this game, so sales have not opened.
The page links to the club’s Camisa 7 membership programme, but gives no details on its benefits or on early access. We have no confirmed prices, sectors or sale dates and will not guess them.
Buy only through the club’s page or its verified links, because resale offers for Brazilian league games often appear on social media. Bring your passport, because Brazilian clubs often ask for identification when a ticket is bought or checked.
How to Watch in the US
The CBF’s fixture list marks this game for Amazon, whose Prime Video service shows selected league games in Brazil. It does not say who holds the rights in the United States.
US broadcasters often announce Brazilian league games only a few days ahead. Look for the match in the listings of Spanish- and Portuguese-language sports services in the week of 16 November, and do not pay for a subscription before the game is listed.
Getting There
The Nilton Santos Stadium stands in Engenho de Dentro, a residential district in Rio’s north zone, a long way from the beaches of Copacabana and Ipanema. Allow extra time for the trip, because evening traffic in Rio is heavy and no match-day transport plan has been published for this game.
Most visitors use licensed taxis or ride-hailing apps and agree on the return trip before the game ends. Fly into Rio’s Galeão airport or the downtown Santos Dumont airport, and book a hotel on the south-zone side if you want a beach stay as well.
Fans coming from São Paulo can reach Rio by a flight of about one hour or a road trip of about six hours. The match ends late on a Monday, so a flight home on Tuesday morning is a safer plan than a late-night departure.
Safety and Costs for Visitors
US citizens need a Brazilian e-visa for tourism, which they apply for online before the trip. Our guide to the Brazil e-visa for US citizens explains the process, and the US State Department publishes the current Brazil travel advisory.
Football crowds in Brazil are loud and passionate, and rival fans are separated by the police inside the stadium. Wear neutral colours, carry only the cash and card you need, and keep your phone out of sight on the street after dark.
Do not buy from street sellers outside the stadium, and do not accept tickets sent as screenshots. Our guide to what to do in Rio in November 2026 lists other events that month.
What It Means for You
If you plan a trip, the date is firm enough to book flights, but wait for the ticket sale before you pay for a non-refundable hotel. The 6 p.m. Eastern start makes it easy to follow from the United States on a Monday evening if a broadcaster picks it up.
Fans who follow Brazilian football from the US can pair this game with the other round-36 matches that week. Our Corinthians vs Botafogo guide covers Botafogo’s trip to São Paulo five days earlier, on Wednesday 18 November.
What Is Not Known
The ticket sale date, the prices, the sectors and the rules for visiting fans are not published. A US broadcaster, the gate times and any match-day transport plan are not announced either.
The CBF can still move the kick-off, and a result in an earlier round can change what is at stake. We will refresh this guide when Botafogo open the sale.
More: Brazil news in English, every day from The Rio Times.
Frequently Asked Questions
When Do Botafogo Play São Paulo?
The match is on Monday 23 November 2026 at 8 p.m. in Rio de Janeiro. That is 6 p.m. US Eastern time.
Where Is the Game Played?
It is played at the Nilton Santos Stadium in Engenho de Dentro, in Rio’s north zone. It is not at the Maracanã.
How Do I Buy Tickets?
Botafogo sell tickets through the Ingresse platform, linked from the club’s website. The game was not listed on 30 October, so check again closer to the date.
Can I Watch the Match in the United States?
The league lists Amazon for Brazil, but no US broadcaster is confirmed. Check sports listings in the week of the game.
Sources: Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF), detailed fixture list for rounds 35 and 36, 29 October 2026; Botafogo official ticket page (Ingresse), checked 30 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
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