The changes in the calendar of Brazilian football announced this Wednesday (1st) by the CBF (Brazilian Football Confederation) were well received by the presidents of some clubs in São Paulo.
Among the main news, valid from 2026, the entity reduced the dates of the state and spread the Brazilian Championship throughout the year, with the proposal to reduce the load of games of the teams of the national football by up to 15%.
“Palmeiras agrees with changes in the calendar released by CBF, starting with the reduction of all states to 11 dates, including the Paulista Championship. Difficult solutions require difficult decisions,” said Palmeiras president Leila Pereira.
“The CBF has taken a very important step today so that we have, in the near future, an even better calendar that fully respects the integrity of the athletes and values Brazilian football in each of their particularities,” added the president of Palmeiras.
“The Brazilian calendar needed a review to be closer to aligning the club needs of all the greatness. It is important for everyone that Brazilian football continues to improve in all aspects, and the CBF initiative demonstrates the engagement of this new administration in this project,” said Julio Casares, president of São Paulo.
President of Santos, Marcelo Teixeira stated that the new calendar of competitions established by CBF will be a new experience, with the beginning of the season already with the Brasileirão, reconciling with the state. “It can represent an important step for Brazilian football in valuing its product,” said the president of Santos.
He added that it is structural changes that “open a range of new business opportunities and new means of fans of fans, whether in stadiums or in the digital environment.”
Economist and partner of the summoned consultancy, César Grafietti assessed that the new calendar represents an evolution, although it needs to be understood from the 2026 perspective to be a year of the World Cup, with mid -season stoppage, which requires the beginning of Series A in January.
“In a typical year the beginning would be in February, and this is one of the good evolutions, which is having a national calendar throughout the year,” said the expert.
He added that it would be interesting to improve the distribution of Brazilian Cup money to get the weight of the competition and improve resource irrigation at the base of the pyramid. In any case, “positive and important changes in the construction of a more sustainable football.”
General Director of EMW Global for Latin America and Marketing Professor, Eduardo Cork said that expanding the Brazilian Cup and Series means more games, largest box office and largest exhibition for local and regional brands, “something fundamental for medium and small teams, which have a longer and more predictable calendar.”
For sponsors, the creation of new regional tournaments and the final of the Brazilian Cup in a single game, in a neutral stadium, raises the attractiveness of investments, creating properties of greater visibility and activation potential, Cord added.
“In addition, the better dates distribution calendar tends to generate more consistent exposure opportunities throughout the year.”
“In terms of marketing, this redesign puts Brazilian football able to offer a more organized and attractive product for all stakeholders, expanding its competitiveness in the global sports market,” said the professor.
How is the calendar of Brazilian football
State
> Home: 11.Jan
> Term: 8.Mar
> Maximum of 11 dates
Copa do Brasil
> Home: 18.FEV
> Termination: 6.
> FINAL IN SINGLE GAME –Sere the last game of the year in Brazil
> Increase from 92 to 126 clubs in 2026 (128 in 2027)
> Increase from 122 to 155 matches
Who Will you compete in the Brazilian Cup?
- 20 Series A Clubs
- Northeast Cup champions, Green Cup, C Series and Serie D
- 102 vacancies for clubs that dispute state, according to the federation ranking
Series A
> Home: 28.JAN
> End: 2.
> Following in running points
Series B
> Home: 21.mar
> TIKMINO: 28 28nov
> Following in running points
C series
> Home: 5.abr
> Término: 25.out
> 20 clubs in 2026, 24 in 2027 and 28 in 2028
> Fall 2 in 2026 and 2027 and 6 in 2028
> Format changes to 2 groups of 14 clubs in 2028
Series D
> Home: 5.abr
> Término: 13.set
> Increase from 64 to 96 club
Northeast Cup
> Home: 25.mar
> Term: 7.Jun
> Increase from 16 to 20 teams
> Clubs that dispute Conmebol tournaments do not participate
Green Cup
> Home: 25.mar
> Term: 7.Jun
> Clubs that dispute Conmebol tournaments do not participate
Copa South-Southeast
> Home: 25.mar
> Term: 7.Jun
> 12 times
> Clubs that dispute Conmebol tournaments do not participate
