BRAZIL · FOOTBALL
Key Facts
- —What is happening Corinthians host Botafogo at Neo Química Arena in São Paulo on Wednesday, 18 November 2026, in round 35 of 38 in the Brasileirão. The kickoff time is not yet set.
- —Why it matters Corinthians are 16th of 20 clubs with 33 points, one point above the relegation zone, while 11th placed Botafogo has 39 (standings of 22 October, before round 32).
- —The numbers Corinthians have 8 wins, 9 draws and 14 losses after 31 games. Botafogo won the first meeting 3 to 1 in Rio de Janeiro on Sunday, 17 May.
- —Who is who Corinthians, founded in 1910, are one of Brazil’s biggest clubs and play in Itaquera. Botafogo, from Rio de Janeiro, sit 11th in the table and are level on points with Coritiba.
- —What to watch Recent Corinthians home games went on sale four to eight days ahead, so sales should open around 10 to 14 November on fieltorcedor.com.br. That date 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).
- —What it means for you US citizens need a Brazilian visa approved before they travel. For a May league game at this arena, tickets cost BRL 80 to BRL 280 (about US$16 to US$56).
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Corinthians, a São Paulo giant fighting to avoid relegation, face Botafogo on 18 November. Here is how visitors can buy tickets, get to Itaquera and watch from the US.
Corinthians, one of Brazil’s biggest football clubs, host Botafogo at Neo Química Arena in São Paulo on Wednesday, 18 November 2026. The Corinthians vs Botafogo match is round 35 of the 38-round Brasileirão, the top flight of Brazilian football.
Tickets for this game are not on sale yet, and the kickoff time and US broadcaster are not confirmed. This guide explains how a foreign visitor can buy a ticket, reach Itaquera, stay safe and watch from the United States.
What It Is and Why It Matters
The Brasileirão is Brazil’s national league, with 20 clubs that each play 38 games, home and away. The four bottom clubs after round 38 on Wednesday, 2 December are relegated to the second division.
Corinthians are 16th with 33 points after 31 games, one point above Internacional in 17th place. Internacional, Grêmio, Remo and Chapecoense fill the bottom four, so every home point counts.
Botafogo are 11th with 39 points, well behind the leaders and six points above Corinthians. The Rio de Janeiro club is level on points with 12th placed Coritiba and seven above Internacional.
Corinthians went out of this year’s Libertadores in the quarterfinals, losing to Argentina’s Estudiantes. They had reached that stage by beating Rosario Central 1 to 0 at this arena on 20 August.
Botafogo won the first meeting this season 3 to 1 on Sunday, 17 May, at its home ground in Rio de Janeiro. A home win on 18 November would help Corinthians build a cushion over the bottom four.
The standings above are from 22 October and will change in the three rounds before this match. Check the table in the week of the game before you plan a trip around it.
Date and Kickoff Time
Round 35 is played on Wednesday, 18 November 2026, and all ten games of the round share that date. The league has not yet published kickoff times, so no start time can be given for this match.
São Paulo is on UTC minus three hours all year, because Brazil no longer uses daylight saving time. From 1 November, New York is on standard time, so São Paulo is two hours ahead of US Eastern.
The next Corinthians home game, against Mirassol on Friday, 30 October, starts at 8 p.m. local time. An 8 p.m. start here would be 6 p.m. in New York, but that is only an example.
After 18 November, Corinthians travel to Atlético-MG on Saturday, 21 November, and host Grêmio on Saturday, 28 November. They end the season away at Remo on Wednesday, 2 December.
Botafogo host São Paulo FC on 21 November and Bahia on 28 November, then visit Santos on 2 December. Dates come from the league calendar, and the league can still change them.
A closer option for visitors already in Brazil is Corinthians against Mirassol at the same arena on Friday, 30 October. Sales opened on 22 October, and the general public can buy from Saturday, 24 October, at 11 a.m. Brasília time.
Tickets and How to Buy Them
Corinthians sell tickets online through its Fiel Torcedor platform at fieltorcedor.com.br, and the arena says buyers need not be members. The arena says in-person sales are temporarily suspended, so there is no open box office on the day.
The club has not announced sale dates, prices or sectors for 18 November. Its recent home games went on sale four to eight days ahead, so the sale should start around 10 to 14 November.
Sales run in stages, with club members who hold the most points first and the general public last. Visitors without membership points should expect to buy on the last day, when the best seats may be gone.
For a May league game against São Paulo FC, the club required full registration and facial biometrics on the site. It also allowed one ticket per CPF, the Brazilian taxpayer number, which few visitors have.
That game cost BRL 80 (about US$16) behind the goals and up to BRL 280 (about US$56) in the upper west stand. East stand seats cost BRL 130 to BRL 200 (about US$26 to US$40).
These May prices are a guide only, because the club sets a new price list for each game. The arena warns fans to buy only through Fiel Torcedor to avoid scams.
Half-price tickets require a current-year Brazilian student card, the CIE, or another proof the club lists, such as a teacher’s work identity. Foreign student cards are not mentioned, so most visitors should budget for full price.
Whether a foreign visitor without a CPF can complete a purchase is not stated on the club’s pages. Ask the club or the arena by phone before you pay anyone.
How to Watch in the United States
No US broadcaster has been confirmed for this match. Fanatiz, a US streaming service for South American football, lists Brasileirão games, according to the sports site World Soccer Talk.
Fanatiz says its catalogue varies by country and over time, so check its schedule in the week of the game. In Brazil, the pay service Premiere has listed Brasileirão games, but US rights can differ.
Kickoff time will set when US fans watch, once the league publishes it. West Coast viewers are three hours behind Eastern, so an 8 p.m. start would be 3 p.m. in Los Angeles.
Getting to Itaquera
Neo Química Arena is at Avenida Sport Club Corinthians Paulista 3158, in Itaquera, in São Paulo’s east zone. It is a long ride from the hotel areas around Avenida Paulista, so plan the whole trip in advance.
The arena names two metro stations on Line 3 Red: Corinthians-Itaquera, using the east access, and Artur Alvim, using the west access. CPTM commuter Line 11 Coral also stops at Corinthians-Itaquera.
On match days the traffic authority, CET, closes streets near the arena, and it asks drivers to call 1188 for information. Streets named by the arena include Avenida Radial Leste and Rua Doutor Luís Aires.
Ride-hailing pickup points and walking distances are not on the arena’s pages, so ask the arena before the game. Its phone number is (11) 3152-4001.
Leave early, because ticket checks at the gates take time, especially when biometrics are used. After the game, avoid the crush at the gates by waiting a few minutes inside the sector.
Inside the Arena
Neo Química Arena opened on 10 May 2014 and hosted the opening match of the 2014 World Cup. The arena says 47,099 fans paid for the clash with Santos on 30 August, one of its four biggest paid crowds.
Gates A and D lead to the lower west stand and gate B, by the staircase, to the upper west. Gates H and N serve the lower east stand, and gates I, J, K, L and M the upper east.
Gate E serves the south stand, and the north stand is for registered organized fan groups. Check your gate on the ticket before you leave the hotel.
The arena bans power banks, laptops, cameras with interchangeable lenses, outside food and drink, and musical instruments. Bags larger than 25 by 25 by 25 centimeters are banned too, but sealed snacks and cut fruit are allowed.
The arena will host ten matches of the 2027 Women’s World Cup, according to its own news page. That tournament, held in Brazil, is a reason for US fans to learn the stadium now.
Safety and Costs for Visitors
The US State Department rates Brazil at Level 2, Exercise Increased Caution, in an advisory dated 31 August 2026. It cites crime and kidnapping, and it says concerts and sporting events can turn violent.
The department advises against using municipal buses, especially at night, and warns of petty crime on metro systems. It says US government staff may use Uber and advises marked taxis, ideally called by your hotel.
Express kidnappings, in which victims are forced to withdraw cash or send money by Pix, are a named risk. Carry one card, a little cash and your phone with the ticket, and keep valuables out of sight.
US citizens need a Brazilian visa or e-visa approved before they leave, and the passport must be valid on entry. The State Department also asks for one blank page for the entry stamp.
A ticket in the cheapest sectors cost about US$16 in May, but flights, a visa fee and hotels cost far more. Conversions use a rate of BRL 5.02 per US dollar on 22 October 2026.
What It Means for You
This is a league game with real stakes but little glamour, so it suits fans who want a local football night. The cost is low, though the ticket process is the hard part.
Start with the visa, then watch the club’s site in the second week of November for the sale. Expats in São Paulo with a CPF can try to register and buy, while tourists should ask the arena about foreign buyers.
What Is Not Known
The kickoff time, the broadcaster in Brazil and the US broadcaster for 18 November are not yet published. Ticket prices, sale dates and the availability of the lower west stand are also not published.
It is not stated whether biometrics and the one ticket per CPF limit apply to this game. Nor is it stated whether visitors without a CPF can buy, and the table will change before the match.
Connected Coverage
For more football in Brazil, see the Brazil hub and the guide to Palmeiras vs Flamengo in São Paulo. The Brasileirão 2026 title race explains who can still win the league.
For a stay in the city, read the São Paulo city page and What to Do in São Paulo in October 2026. This game falls in November, so look for the next monthly guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is Corinthians vs Botafogo?
Corinthians host Botafogo on Wednesday, 18 November 2026, at Neo Química Arena in São Paulo. The kickoff time has not been announced, and São Paulo is two hours ahead of US Eastern.
Where can I buy tickets?
Tickets are sold online at fieltorcedor.com.br, the club’s platform, and the arena says in-person sales are suspended. Sale dates for this game are not announced, but recent games went on sale four to eight days ahead.
How can I watch Corinthians vs Botafogo in the US?
No US broadcaster is confirmed yet. Fanatiz lists Brasileirão games, but check its schedule in the week of the match.
Do US citizens need a visa for Brazil?
Yes, US citizens need a Brazilian visa or e-visa approved before they travel, according to the State Department. The passport must be valid on the date of entry and have a blank page.
Sources: Neo Química Arena, ticket rules; Neo Química Arena, May ticket notice; Neo Química Arena, maps and routes; Neo Química Arena, news; Neo Química Arena, Mirassol ticket notice; Neo Química Arena, history; ValorFinal, round 35; ESPN, match page; Futbol Total, match page; ESPN, Série A table; US State Department, Brazil advisory; US State Department, Brazil entry rules; World Soccer Talk, Brasileirão on US TV; exchange rate (all accessed 22 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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