Attraction
MASP – Museu de Arte de São Paulo
São Paulo's best-known art museum, raised above Avenida Paulista on Lina Bo Bardi's suspended concrete structure and holding more than 8,000 works from Raphael to Portinari.
Museu do Futebol
An interactive museum built into the stands of the Pacaembu stadium, tracing how football became part of Brazilian life across 15 rooms and 6,900 square metres.
At a glance
- Type
- Football museum
- Area
- Pacaembu, São Paulo, Brazil
- Opening
- Open 6 days a week (closed Monday) · 09:00–18:00
- Official site
- museudofutebol.org.br
Good to know
- Free entry on Tuesdays
- Audio guides
- Accessible
- Café
- Shop
- Football library
Why we recommend it
The Museu do Futebol opened on 29 September 2008, with Pelé at the ceremony, inside the Estádio do Pacaembu on Praça Charles Miller in the west of the city. It occupies the space under and behind the stadium's stands, and one of its rooms looks straight out over the pitch. The project was a joint effort of the city and state governments, and the museum covers some 6,900 square metres.
The main exhibition is laid out across 15 rooms and is more about culture than trophies. It follows football from its beginnings to the present and explains how a sport brought from England and first played by a white elite became a popular game that reflects Brazil's mixed society. Rooms link the game to art, music and everyday life, and much of the content is interactive, with sound and video. Smartphone audio guides are available in Portuguese, English and Spanish, and the rooms are accessible to disabled visitors. There is also a temporary exhibition space; Amarelinha runs until 1 November 2026.
Since 2013 the museum has hosted the Brazilian Football Reference Centre, the country's first public library dedicated to the sport, with more than 4,000 books, periodicals and films. The museum also runs Libras tours and an activity called Artilheiro Adaptado, which introduces visitors to football adapted for blind players.
The museum is open Tuesday to Sunday from 9:00 to 18:00, with last entry at 17:00, and on the first Tuesday of each month it stays open until 21:00. It is closed on Mondays and on 24, 25 and 31 December and 1 January. Entry is free for everyone on Tuesdays, and children up to seven go free every day. Tickets can be bought at the box office or online. If you also plan to visit the Museu da Língua Portuguesa, buying online lets you add a discounted ticket for it, an offer the museum says runs until 30 December 2026.
Allow around two hours. The museum is a good choice for families and for anyone curious about why football matters so much in Brazil, even if they do not follow the game. There is a café and a shop on site, so you can make a half day of it.
Museu do Futebol FAQs
When is the Museu do Futebol open?
Tuesday to Sunday from 9:00 to 18:00, with last entry at 17:00. It is closed on Mondays.
Is there a free day?
Yes. Entry is free for everyone on Tuesdays, and children up to seven are always free.
Is there a late opening?
Yes. On the first Tuesday of every month the museum stays open until 21:00.
Where is the museum?
Inside the Estádio do Pacaembu on Praça Charles Miller, built into the space under the stands.
Are there audio guides in English?
Yes. Smartphone audio guides are available in Portuguese, English and Spanish.
How do I buy tickets?
At the box office or online through the museum's ticketing partner.
Is it suitable for children?
Yes. The exhibition is interactive and family-friendly, and children up to seven go free.
How long should I allow?
Around two hours for the 15 rooms of the main exhibition.