Brazilians need a full B1/B2 visitor visa for the United States, and the interview wait is the single thing most likely to sink a trip. Start there, months ahead — everything else about travelling from Brazil to watch live sport in the US is straightforward by comparison.
Once that is sorted, the flights are good (São Paulo and Rio both have plenty of direct routes), and this guide covers what happens after you land: getting around, what things cost, tipping, and what a US stadium is actually like compared with a Brazilian one.
Which Sport to Go and See
The United States runs five major spectator sports, and which one you can see depends entirely on when you visit.
- College football (late August to early January) is the one most visitors underestimate. Crowds of 100,000 are normal at the biggest programmes, the atmosphere is closer to a derby than anything in US pro sport, and tickets are cheap by comparison.
- NFL (September to February) is the hardest ticket and the biggest occasion. Only nine home games a season, so plan around a specific team's schedule.
- MLB (April to October) is the easiest to see on short notice — 81 home games a season means tickets are cheap and available almost any day of the week in summer.
- NBA and NHL (October to June) are indoor, weatherproof, and the best option for a winter trip. Many arenas host both.
If you are building a trip around it, our schedule pages show every away game for a given team with flights, hotels and tickets for those dates, and the stadium guides cover getting in, where to sit, and what you cannot bring through the gate.
Entry Requirements
This is the most important section for Brazilian fans. Read it carefully and act early.
Brazilian citizens are not eligible for ESTA (the Electronic System for Travel Authorization). Brazil is not part of the US Visa Waiver Program. You need a B1/B2 nonimmigrant visa to enter the USA, and getting one requires an in-person interview at a US Embassy or Consulate in Brazil.
The process:
- Complete the DS-160 online application form at ceac.state.gov
- Pay the visa application fee ($185 USD, roughly R$975 at current rates)
- Schedule an interview at a US Embassy or Consulate in Brazil (São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Brasilia, Recife, or Porto Alegre)
- Attend the interview with your passport (valid for at least six months beyond your travel dates), DS-160 confirmation, photo, and supporting documents showing ties to Brazil (employment letter, property records, bank statements)
- If approved, your passport with the visa is returned within 2-4 weeks
** As of early 2026, interview wait times at Brazilian consulates range from 90 to 250+ days depending on the location. São Paulo tends to have the shortest waits (90-150 days), but this can change. com/en-BR/niv) immediately.
If you already have a valid B1/B2 visa: You're set. US tourist visas for Brazilians are typically issued for 10 years with multiple entry. Check that your visa hasn't expired and that your passport is valid for at least six months beyond June 2026.
If your visa is expired but was previously approved: You may be eligible for a renewal by mail (interview waiver) if your previous visa was issued within the last 48 months. This is faster than a new application but still takes weeks. Check eligibility at the US Embassy site.
For Brazilians already living in the US: If you have a Green Card, US citizenship, or valid work visa, you obviously don't need a tourist visa. But if friends or family are visiting from Brazil, make sure they understand the timeline above.
Getting There
From Brazil: Direct flights to the US East Coast operate from São Paulo (GRU) and Rio de Janeiro (GIG) on multiple carriers.
São Paulo (GRU) routes:
- To New York/Newark (EWR): United nonstop, roughly 10 hours
- To New York/JFK: LATAM and Delta nonstop
- To Miami (MIA): LATAM and American nonstop, roughly 8 hours. Azul flies nonstop to Fort Lauderdale (FLL), a short drive from Miami.
- To Philadelphia: No direct flights. Connect through New York, Miami, or Atlanta
Rio de Janeiro (GIG) routes:
- To New York/JFK: LATAM nonstop
- To Miami (MIA): American and LATAM nonstop
- To Atlanta (ATL): Delta nonstop (useful for connections to Philadelphia)
Note: some GIG routes (particularly Delta's GIG-JFK) are seasonal and may not operate in June 2026.
** It's about 15 minutes from the stadium. JFK works too but is farther.
Booking this as a multi-city itinerary on LATAM, Delta, or United often costs less than separate round trips.
Between cities:
New York to Philadelphia: Amtrak from Penn Station to 30th Street Station, about 75 minutes, $40-80 USD depending on when you book. NJ Transit is cheaper ($16-30) but slower (2+ hours). This is the easiest intercity leg of the trip.
New York/Philadelphia to Miami: Fly. About 3 hours. JetBlue, American, Delta, United, Spirit, and Frontier all serve the route with frequent departures. Book early for fares under $150 one way.
Book as early as possible to lock in current prices. Search flights to New York (EWR) → | Search flights to Philadelphia (PHL) → | Search flights to Miami (MIA) →
Getting Around
There is no direct train from Penn Station — instead, take any NJ Transit train from Penn Station to Secaucus Junction, then transfer to the Meadowlands Rail Line shuttle, which deposits you just steps from the stadium entrance. The service only operates on event days; check NJ Transit closer to the game for schedules. Within New York, the subway runs 24/7 and takes contactless payments via OMNY: tap your credit card or phone at the turnstile. 00. Uber and Lyft work everywhere.
Philadelphia: SEPTA (the city's transit system) runs buses and the Broad Street Line subway. Lincoln Financial Field is in South Philadelphia's sports complex, reachable by the Broad Street Line (NRG station) or the #17 bus. On game days, expect dedicated shuttle services. Philadelphia is also very walkable in Center City. Uber and Lyft are widely available.
Miami: You will need a car, Uber, or Lyft. Miami's public transit is limited. Hard Rock Stadium is in Miami Gardens, about 30 minutes north of downtown Miami and South Beach. There is no rail service to the stadium. If you're staying in Miami Beach or downtown, budget $25-40 for an Uber each way to the stadium, and significantly more with surge pricing after the game.
Your Brazilian driving licence (CNH) is valid in the US for tourist stays. You'll be driving on the right (same as Brazil). Fuel is cheaper than Brazil.
Money, Phones, and Essentials
Currency: US Dollar. As of early 2026, $1 USD ≈ R$5.25-5.30. The real has been volatile, so check the rate before you travel. Contactless payments (Visa, Mastercard) work almost everywhere. Your Brazilian bank card will work at most merchants and ATMs, but check with your bank about international transaction fees (IOF tax applies to foreign transactions). A multi-currency card (Wise, Nomad, C6 Global) is the cheapest way to pay abroad and avoids double conversion fees.
Sales tax: Unlike Brazil, posted prices in the US do not include tax. Your $15 lunch is actually $16-17+ after tax. In New Jersey, sales tax is about 6.6%. In Pennsylvania (Philadelphia), it's 8%. In Florida (Miami), it's 7%. Budget accordingly.
Tipping: This is mandatory in the US, not optional. At restaurants, tip 18-20% of the bill. At bars, $1-2 per drink. For Uber/Lyft rides, 15-20%. This is how service workers earn their income. Not tipping is considered extremely rude. In Brazil, the 10% service charge is common but not always expected. In the US, 18-20% is the baseline and there is no service charge on the bill. Budget for it.
Phone: Check with your Brazilian carrier (Claro, Vivo, TIM) about US roaming packages. Many plans now include some US data, but rates vary and can be expensive. For the best deal, pick up a prepaid US SIM at the airport or a T-Mobile/AT&T store. A prepaid SIM with data for a few weeks runs about $30-40 USD.
Plugs: The US uses Type A/B plugs (two flat pins), 120V, the same as Brazil. If your devices use the Brazilian three-pin Type N plug, you may need a simple adapter, but many Brazilian chargers already fit US outlets. Check before you pack.
Language: English is the primary language. In Miami, you'll also hear a lot of Spanish. Restaurant menus, transit signage, and stadium staff will all be in English. Google Translate works well for real-time translation. A few phrases in English go a long way, but don't assume you'll find Portuguese speakers outside Brazilian neighborhoods.
Healthcare: There is no public healthcare for visitors in the US. An emergency room visit can cost thousands of dollars. Buy travel insurance before you go, and make sure it covers medical expenses in the US. This is not optional. Farmácias like you're used to in Brazil don't exist here; you'll need a prescription for most medications. Bring any medications you need from home.
Food and Drink Costs
The US is more expensive than most Brazilian visitors expect, especially for dining out. Here's a rough budgeting guide:
- Coffee: $4-7 USD (R$21-37). American coffee is weaker than Brazilian coffee. If you want espresso or something stronger, look for specialty coffee shops.
- Casual lunch (fast-casual, food truck, deli): $15-22 USD (R$79-116)
- Sit-down dinner (no drinks): $35-55 USD (R$184-290)
- Dinner with drinks: $60-90 USD (R$315-475)
- Beer at a bar: $8-14 USD depending on city (Miami and New York at the top end)
- Grocery run for a day: $20-30 USD (R$105-158)
New York is the most expensive of the three for food and drink. Philadelphia is the most affordable, with a strong food truck culture and excellent cheesesteaks for $10-15. Miami is moderate, with Cuban and Latin American food options that feel more familiar and are often better value than standard American restaurants. Look for Cuban cafeterías in Little Havana for strong coffee and sandwiches at reasonable prices.
For context: a good meal in any of these cities costs roughly 3-5x what you'd pay for a comparable meal in São Paulo. The portions are large. Budget $50-80 USD per day for food if you mix casual and sit-down meals.
Weather
All three games are in mid-to-late June, which is full summer on the US East Coast.
New York/New Jersey: Warm and potentially humid. Expect 25-30°C (77-86°F). MetLife Stadium is open-air. Bring sunscreen. Evenings cool to 20-22°C.
Philadelphia: Similar to New York, 26-32°C (79-90°F) with humidity. Lincoln Financial Field is open-air. Rain is possible; June is one of Philadelphia's wetter months.
Miami: Hot, humid, and possibly stormy. Expect 30-33°C (86-91°F) with high humidity. Late June is the beginning of hurricane season and afternoon thunderstorms are common. Hard Rock Stadium is open-air with partial upper-deck cover. Hydrate aggressively. If you're coming from São Paulo or southern Brazil, the Miami climate will feel familiar. If you're from the south of Brazil, it will feel like Salvador or Recife.
Fan Culture Differences
Both MetLife and Hard Rock have large tailgating scenes. It's less of a bar culture and more of a car park party. Brazilian fans will likely take this over and turn it into something louder and more musical than the Americans are used to. Join in.
Stadium rules: Bag policies are strict. Most US stadiums enforce a clear bag policy: only transparent bags smaller than 12"x6"x12" are allowed. Leave your regular bag at the hotel. You can buy a clear bag cheaply at any Target or Walmart. Security checks are thorough. No pyrotechnics, no smoke bombs, no flares. This is enforced more strictly than at most South American stadiums.
Atmosphere: US sports crowds are enthusiastic but less structured than what you're used to. American stadiums have assigned seats. People stand and cheer, but don't expect the constant, coordinated drumming and chanting of a Maracanã crowd. That said, with the number of Brazilians expected at these games, the atmosphere will be shaped by the traveling support.
Police and security: Stadium security in the US is private and generally professional. Police presence outside is visible but less militarized than what you might see around big games in Brazil. Follow instructions, don't bring prohibited items, and you won't have issues.
Time Zones
**
This means friends and family watching back home can tune in at very reasonable hours:
| Match | Local Time (ET) | Brazil Time (BRT) |
|---|---|---|
| Brazil vs Morocco | 6:00 PM | 7:00 PM |
| Brazil vs Haiti | 9:00 PM | 10:00 PM |
| Scotland vs Brazil | 6:00 PM | 7:00 PM |
For you in the US, all games are in the evening. You'll have your days free for exploring and your evenings at the stadium or in bars.
One adjustment: the US uses AM/PM time formatting, not the 24-hour clock. When Americans say "6 PM," they mean 18:00. You'll see this on schedules, restaurant hours, and transit timetables.