The CBF (Brazilian Football Confederation) announced on Wednesday (1st) a series of changes that change in an important way the calendar of Brazilian football to the quadrennium 2026-2029.
Under the new format, state championships will be reduced from 16 dates in 2025 to 11 from next season, between January and March.
The Brazilian Championship will be played throughout the year, between January 28 and December 2, with the break for the World Cup, between June 11 and July 19.
The Brazilian Cup, in turn, will have a single ending, instead of round -trip games, with an increase from 92 to 126 clubs in 2026, going to 128 by 2027.
“We had to cut in his own meat,” said CBF president Samir Xaud. “I believe it was the best choice and that we are going to harvest the fruits in the future.”
Xaud said the changes are intended to reduce the charge of elite team games, “which today face an exhaustive marathon throughout the year,” and expand the opportunity in national competitions for teams that spend inactive months.
CBF’s director of competitions, Julio Avellar added that the increase in dates taken by international competitions organized by Conmebol and FIFA over the past few years has also contributed to the new calendar.
Xaud also stated that the rules on the financial fair play to be implemented in Brazilian football will be released in November.
Financial sustainability is “an essential step towards ensuring more balance and responsibility in the management of clubs,” said the leader. “We want to build a sustainable ecosystem for everyone, controlling spending, reducing debt and creating a healthy environment for Brazilian football.”
