The semifinals of the 2025 Brazilian Cup, scheduled for December 10 and 14, reinforce the predominance of teams from Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro and Minas Gerais among the four best of the tournament, with a duel of unbeaten Corinthians and Cruzeiro, which add nine titles of the competition, and the classic carioca between Fluminense and Vasco, with both teams in search of the second achievement.
In 37 editions since the tournament began in 1989 representatives from the three states had 92 of the 148 semifinals, or about 62%.
On eight occasions the four semifinals were monopolized by Rio de Janeiro clubs, miners and Paulistas, with the trend reinforced over the last decade —1998, 2000, 2014, 2015, 2018, 2022, 2024, 2025.
Only once the tournament had a semifinal without any team of the three states in 1991, with Coritiba and Remo stopping in the semifinals, and Criciúma’s victory over Grêmio in the decision.
Considering the 2025 edition, there will be six consecutive years with the title with a team from Sao Paulo, Minas or Rio, with two from Flamengo (2022 and 2024), and one from Palmeiras (2020), Atlético Mineiro (2021) and Sao Paulo (2023).
In 2019, Athletico Paraná was the last of another state to win, in a decision against Internacional.
From 36 titles, the Southeast teams were 26. Rio Grande do Sul follows seven, five of them from Grêmio.
Second largest state champion with three titles (1995, 2002 and 2009), Corinthians returns to the semifinals of the Brazilian Cup this year for the fourth time in a row.
In 2023 and 2024, he stopped in the semifinals, against São Paulo and Flamengo, respectively. In 2022, he lost his red-black in the final in the penalty shootout.
On the way here, Alvinegro debuted with two wins 1-0 against Novorizontino. In the round of 16, he took rival Palmeiras, with triumphs 1-0 and 2-0. In the Wednesdays, again two wins 1-0 and 2-0 against Athletico-PR, with a prominent performance of the 18-year-old Base Negão striker with two goals and an assistance.
“Win today [quarta-feira] I am sure it will be very good for the Brazilian sequence, “said Gui Negão, who debuted in June among the professionals, with ten games and four goals. The team is only the 12th in the Brazilian table, and measures forces with Fluminense (9th), for the 23rd round, this Saturday (13).
Corinthians will face the Cruzeiro Cup, the largest champion of the tournament with six titles, in reissue of the 2018 final, when the mining team last won.
According to the Brasileirão, the cruise of Leonardo Jardim also arrives unbeaten to the semifinal, with victories about Vila Nova (2 to 0 and 3 to 0), CRB (0 to 0 and 2 to 0) and Atletico-MG (2 to 0 and 2 to 0).
Name in Carlo Ancelotti’s last list in the Brazilian team, striker Kaio Jorge is the top scorer of the competition, with five goals in six games, including three in the state’s rival. He is also the scorer of the Brazilian Championship, with 15 goals in 21 games.
Cruzeiro’s next commitment is against Bahia (4th), on Monday (15), by the Brazilian.
On the other side of the key, Fluminense and Botafogo are still looking for the second title of the competition, in clashes that should take place in Maracanã.
Fluminense was champion in 2007, with Thiago Silva, again in the team in search of the second achievement with the club.
He was the author of one of the goals in the 2-0 win over Bahia in the quarterfinals at Maracanã, reversing the 1-0 advantage built by the northeastern team in Salvador.
“I want to arrive in December and celebrate a title, because I know it will probably be the last of my career,” said the 40 -year -old captain.
On the way to the semifinals, Fluminense passed by Marabá eagle (8 to 0), Caxias (2 to 1), Aparecidense (1 to 0 and 4 to 1) and international (1 to 1 and 2 to 1).
Already Vasco, champion in 2011, returns to the semifinals for the second year in a row. In 2024, he stopped at Atletico-MG.
Cruz-Maltino went through União Rondonópolis (3 to 0), Nova Iguaçu (3 to 0), worker (1 to 1 and 1 to 1 –7 x 6 on penalties), and CSA (0 to 0 and 3 to 1).
In the quarterfinals, after a 1-1 draw in both games against Botafogo, in a new penalty decision, goalkeeper Leo Jardim again appeared in defense of Alex Telles.
The goalkeeper had already been decisive in the dispute against the worker, for the third phase, when he defended three charges.
Since arriving at the club in 2023, Leo Jardim has defended seven penalty shoot -up charges, with the club advanced in five disputes, all for the Brazilian Cup.
“It’s a goalkeeper’s mental game with the beater,” said the archer.
For the campaigns so far, Vasco and Fluminense secured about $ 24 million in awards, because they started in the competition since the first phase. Corinthians and Cruzeiro, who debuted in the third phase, secured $ 20 million.
The runner-up receives another $ 33 million, while the champion pockets $ 77.2 million.
