Anyone going to the NFL Rio Game at Maracanã on Sunday, September 27, 2026 should plan the trip before leaving home. The Baltimore Ravens vs. Dallas Cowboys game starts at 5:25 PM, and the NFL says gates open at 1:25 PM. Around the stadium, however, the mobility operation begins much earlier: the parking ban starts at 7:00 PM on Saturday, September 26, and road closures are introduced in stages from 10:00 AM on Sunday.
The simplest approach is to prioritize public transportation, check the gate shown on the ticket and leave extra time for lines and access controls. Rio City Hall, TrensRJ and the NFL also warn that schedules and operating plans may be adjusted according to event conditions. It is worth checking official channels again on game day.
Timeline for planning arrival and departure
| Time | What changes | How to plan |
|---|---|---|
| Saturday, Sep. 26, 7:00 PM | The parking ban begins around Maracanã. | Do not rely on street parking near the stadium and avoid leaving a vehicle inside the restricted area. |
| Sunday, Sep. 27, 10:00 AM | The first stage of road closures begins. | Drivers who need to cross the area should travel earlier and follow posted detours. |
| 11:00 AM | The closure expands, including Avenida Rei Pelé toward Méier. | From this point, rail transport becomes even more practical for stadium access. |
| 1:25 PM | Gates open, according to the NFL. | Arriving early reduces the risk of facing peak lines close to kickoff. |
| 5:25 PM | Scheduled kickoff for Ravens vs. Cowboys. | Avoid planning a last-minute arrival, especially if you need to transfer or walk to a different gate. |
| From 8:00 PM | TrensRJ has scheduled return trains from Maracanã station, with specific times by branch. | Check your branch schedule before leaving the stadium and do not depend on a single departure. |
| Until 11:00 PM | MetrôRio operates from 7:00 AM to 11:00 PM and CET-Rio expects roads to be reopened by 11:00 PM. | During the exit period, follow station crowd controls and check real-time updates. |
Which roads will be closed near Maracanã
In the first stage, from 10:00 AM, CET-Rio plans closures at important points around the stadium, including Avenida Rei Pelé toward downtown between Rua São Francisco Xavier and Rua Teixeira Soares, Rua Professor Eurico Rabelo, the specified section of Rua Visconde de Itamarati, Ruas Isidro de Figueiredo, Artur Menezes and Conselheiro Olegário, as well as sections of Avenida Maracanã, Avenida Paula Sousa, Rua Professor Manuel de Abreu, Rua Radialista Waldir Amaral, Rua São Francisco Xavier, Rua Mata Machado and Rua Luis Gama.
From 11:00 AM, the plan also includes Avenida Rei Pelé toward Méier between Rua Ceará and Rua São Francisco Xavier, Viaduto Oduvaldo Cozzi and its access points to Avenida Rei Pelé, and Viaduto de São Cristóvão. For diverted traffic, City Hall lists Rua Ceará as the alternative toward Méier and Rua Mariz e Barros toward Tijuca.
People who are not attending the game and only need to cross the area should avoid the stadium perimeter during the operation. Traffic agents may adjust the plan according to conditions.
Metro: choose the station based on your ticket gate
On Sunday, the metro system will operate from 7:00 AM to 11:00 PM. Lines 1 and 4 will run between Uruguai and Jardim Oceânico/Barra da Tijuca, while Line 2 will run between Pavuna and General Osório/Ipanema. Transfers between Lines 1 and 2 will be possible along the section between Central do Brasil and General Osório.
| Ticket gate | Recommended station | Line |
|---|---|---|
| A and B | Rei Pelé/Maracanã | Line 2 |
| C | São Francisco Xavier/Tijuca | Line 1 |
| D and E | São Cristóvão | Line 2 |
MetrôRio plans to increase train supply during arrival and departure periods, reinforce station teams and manage crowd flow at stations near the stadium. To speed up boarding, the guidance published by City Hall is to use contactless payment or load Giro and Jaé cards in advance.
TrensRJ trains: reinforced inbound service and extra return times
TrensRJ says inbound intervals will be reduced for trains coming from Santa Cruz, Japeri and Saracuruna. After the game, scheduled departures leave Maracanã station for four destinations. The operator lists the following times:
- Santa Cruz, local service: 8:04 PM, 8:24 PM, 8:44 PM, 8:59 PM, 9:14 PM, 9:29 PM, 9:49 PM and 10:09 PM.
- Japeri, express service: 8:03 PM, 8:23 PM, 8:43 PM, 8:58 PM, 9:13 PM, 9:28 PM, 9:48 PM and 10:08 PM.
- Saracuruna, local service: 8:01 PM, 8:21 PM, 8:41 PM, 8:56 PM, 9:11 PM, 9:26 PM, 9:48 PM and 10:08 PM.
- Belford Roxo: 8:26 PM, 8:51 PM and 9:16 PM.
The operator says Jaé cards are not accepted on the rail system and recommends buying a ticket in advance. TrensRJ also notes that the special schedule may change according to event conditions, so passengers should check the timetable again before traveling.
BRT, VLT, buses, taxis and rideshare
MOBI-Rio will keep its regular Sunday services, with useful connections for passengers combining BRT with metro, rail, VLT or city buses. Points highlighted by City Hall include Jardim Oceânico, Vicente de Carvalho, Santa Cruz, Paulo da Portela, Magalhães Bastos, Vila Militar, Deodoro and Terminal Gentileza.
VLT service will run normally from 5:00 AM to 11:00 PM on Lines 1, 2, 3 and 4, with average Sunday intervals of 20 minutes. For passengers arriving through downtown Rio, Central station provides connections to rail or metro services toward Maracanã or São Cristóvão.
Bus routes that normally pass through the area will be diverted during road closures. City Hall points to Mariz e Barros and Gonzaga Bastos as key detour corridors for routes toward the North Zone, and São Francisco Xavier for routes toward downtown and the South Zone.
The NFL says there is no public parking at the stadium. For rideshare vehicles, the main pick-up and drop-off point is the skate park at Avenida Bartolomeu de Gusmão, 453, in São Cristóvão, with additional points on Rua São Francisco Xavier. Taxis will have a pick-up area at Viaduto Oduvaldo Cozzi from 6:00 PM.
How to leave the stadium without relying on a single plan
- Before the game, save your ticket gate and the recommended station.
- If you are using suburban rail, check your branch and keep at least two return departure options in mind.
- If you are using the metro, remember that service is scheduled until 11:00 PM and station exits will be managed with crowd controls.
- If you need a rideshare or taxi, walk to the designated pick-up points instead of trying to request a vehicle beside the immediate stadium roadblocks.
- When leaving, check COR.Rio, TrensRJ, MetrôRio and NFL channels for operational changes.
Where to check official updates
The city's consolidated operating plan is on the official Rio City Hall page. Special rail times are on the TrensRJ NFL Rio Game notice. For stadium access rules, gates and fan guidance, also check the official NFL FAQ.
Because road closures, intervals and pick-up points can be adjusted on the day, the best approach is to use these times as a planning baseline and make one final check before leaving.
