Rio de Janeiro Lower League Matchday Experience

This was my ninth game with Homefans and a very memorable one as local host Matheus met me at my hotel and got an Uber to the game in a friendly crowd who all treated us with great respect learning we had come over from England. Matheus also bought us refreshments and helped with our interactions with the locals and getting enthused for the game. Once again thoroughly recommended.

This was my eighth game with Homefans and so you can see how much I appreciate them and trust them. Local host Matheus took us from our hotel to and from Nova Cidade via an Uber, bought our tickets, food and drink, and helped with translation for purchasing merchandise and talking to the locals. He helped us feel like a brother with his kind attitude and respect, as did the Nova Cidade fans who gave us shirts, stickers and hats and allowed us to go on the pitch after the game to take pictures including pictures with a few of their players. Honestly one of the happiest afternoons I’ve had at a game!

This was not the first time I’ve used Homefans. For a non Portuguese speaker, going to a game in Brazil would have been problematic. However, once again the matchday experience went smoothly. My family & I met Matheus in Ipanema & we travelled to the game (7 de Abril v Serrano) together. Our guide, Matheus, is knowledgeable, charming & very funny & my family have loved his company. We did many, many things in Rio, and the home fans matchdays were the highlight.

I’m in my 50s & all my life I’d wanted see football in Brazil. I went to see Portuguesa RJ v Sampaio CorrêaSampa & it was worth the wait. Our guide was Matheus & he was amazing. He was very attentive & made contact with me from the time of the booking process right up to the day of the game. Matheus was so good I’d say he was the best guide I’ve ever had on any tour. The experience was so good I’ve booked another match a few days later. The great thing about these trips are you are with local people in places most tourists do not visit. On the day of the game the locals loved it that “gringos” had travelled to see their team & we were treated like celebrities by the Portuguesa fans. Thank you Matheus & Home fans for making this dream possible.

It's true to say the lower leagues in any country showcase the past, the culture and the heritage of superstar football that we know and love. This your gave me the knowledge of just that. Matheus may be a Flamengo fan, but he has an encyclopedic knowledge of the clubs that paved the way. Also, the stadiums are like living museums. The football itself may not be tiki taka, but that's charming in its own way, and let's face it, we don't go to stadiums to watch a match. Go, you will not regret it!