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Hello everyone,
Together with some friends I will be attending a world cup game in Sao Paolo on 26/6. the game starts at 17h local time and should be finished around 19h.
after the game we would like to get back to Rio as soon as possible, but the latest flight I could find is at 21h30 from Guarulhos airport. I've looked the distance between stadium and airport up on google maps and it seems ok (approx 25km), and with a taxi we should in theory be able to make it in time. But given the SP traffic during World Cup, I'm not so sure things will be so easy...
of course everything depends on the circumstances of the day, but please let me know whether you have to believe in miracles to think that we will get to the airport in time, or if there are any other good options?
thank you very much!
Michel from Belgium (the future world champion ;-))

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1

Given traffic in SP in general and that its a weekday and people will be starting to head home......I don't think its possible. If you had no belongings or anything possible. But I don't see it happening.

I'll give a small anecdote of traffic though not in SP. I was in Rio, going from Copacabana (near Cantagalo Station) to the Rodoviaria. It generally takes 20-30 minutes. It took close to 2 hours with the amount of traffic. Point is, don't assume that it will take 30-40 minutes after a game (with 60,000+ attendees all looking to leave as well).

I would try looking at later flights - try the other airports too. Or perhaps go by bus - buses go regularly (every 10-15 minutes really) to Rio. It takes a few (6 hours) and won't cost as much (70-100 reais).

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2

I wouldnt chance it, though it is doable and even more so if you happen to be 3-0 down with 15 minutes to go, as this gives you a valid reason to leave the game early! There will be thousands more people around the stadium to the games that you are use to seeing in Belgium, so traffic will be far more intense (with people also heading home from work as well). On a personal note I would've thought that it would be a good atmosphere around the city centre that evening with your fellow Belgium supporters. If returning to Rio is no matter of urgency then I would look at flying the following day / days.

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3

Game days in Sao Paulo have been made public holidays just to ease traffic problems in the city but I doubt it will make much difference. Also you may encounter protests closing down major roads in the city like last week. Last week on a Tuesday morning we drove from my in-laws house to the rodoviara, 14.5 kms/33mins according to Google maps, it took 1hr 35 mins ! Don't take your chances with Sao Paulo traffic, you will regret it !

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4

All the answers seem to have a common theme, the unexpected horror of a Sao Paulo traffic jam. Break lights as far as you can see, including all the side routes. Enjoy the after parties and then take a sleeper bus back to Rio. If you left at midnight you would arrive around 06:00. I have spent many an anxious ride to the airport, just making international flights, due to traffic problems and now I leave about 4-5 hours before my flight.

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5

Thx for the advice everyone! Night bus it will be. I understand the bus station Tiete is where we have to go. Is there any difference between the bus companies or are they all more or less the same? Thx again!

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6

More or less the same. I would try to grab a ticket as soon as you can when in SP. No doubt a few people will have the same idea. Tiete is on the metro line so its not hard to get to - not sure whether you want to go there on the metro late at night but.

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7

no, June 26 will NOT be a holiday in SP... only opening match day (June 12) has been declared a special (but still partial) city holiday (and June 19 is already a national holiday; and July 9 is a state of SP holiday).

the main issue would be getting a taxi outside stadium; you would have to walk past the FIFA perimeter as many streets will be closed some hours before and after match... there will be special Airport Buses running directly from stadium to GRU, but heaven knows if supply will be anywhere close to potential demand (one bus seats 40 people...).

i dont really see reason for concern about taking subway line to bus station at nite; I have done that several times and never felt threatened (subway closes at midnite)... subway in SP has never been place for much crime; it is well lit; plenty of security... unless you pass out drunk at bus station, dont see much concern about being there to catch an overnight bus to Rio either.

leaving stadium, just take special "Expresso da Copa" train service at Corinthians-Itaquera stop which will take you in 23 minutes to Luz stop... transfer there to Line 1 (blue) towards Tucuruvi and get off at Portuguesa-Tiete stop for bus station (there will be loads of people doing that as well).... do yourself a favor and buy all subway tkts IN ADVANCE; just pop into any subway stop in SP and buy as many UNITARIO tickets as your group will need (one tkt for each way per person).... each tkt costs R$3... dont expect to give a R$50 bill and find change if you are buying only one or two tkts... and subway tkt agent highly unlikely to speak any English... just write on a piece of paper "Eu quero X bilhetes unitários" and give him money enough for X times R$3.
Expresso da Copa will run on same tracks as Line 11 (coral)... here is SP subway map:
http://www.metro.sp.gov.br/redes/mapa.pdf

by the way, depending on which Entrance you have on your FIFA match tkts (Leste or Oeste), there are different ways to GO to stadium... see pic 2 in this link (from flyer handed out when I picked up my tkts... I will also be there watching Red Devils play Korea):
http://imgur.com/a/r2piV#0

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8
In response to #7

I havent had a problem catching the metro late at night (near midnight). I just dont think (myself personally) would feel too good carrying around all my stuff on there.

If you didn't have a bunch of stuff (and it sounds like the case of hit the match and get back asap) then it wouldn't be a problem.

And definitely agree with buying tickets in advance. Worth it especially given the lines that will happen during that event.

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9
In response to #8

I mean all my stuff on there late at night.

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