The new calendar of Brazilian football, presented by CBF (Brazilian Football Confederation) last Wednesday (1st), had in the Brazilian Cup one of its main changes. The national tournament played in the knockout model goes from 92 clubs in 2025 to 126 in 2026 and 128 from 2027.
According to Julio Avellar, CBF competition director, the expansion aims to “make competition even more democratic and more inclusive”. By embracing more teams than it was called the “pyramid base”, the confederation states that it also seeks a repercussion on the basis of the economy.
“We understand that this has a very valuable business exposure appeal, for sponsors or investors, and especially a greater impact on the production chain, because there are thousands of jobs. It’s the guy who sells hot dogs and gains his livelihood at the stadium door … he is benefiting from this change,” said Avellar.
In the format to be adopted in 2026, the dispute will be developed from February 18 to December 6, with a single final ending. The first four phases will also have duels of one match. In all, there will be 155 clashes.
There will be 102 vacancies distributed through the state championships. With the 20 representatives of Serie A and four champions (Northeast Cup, Green Cup, Brazilian C Series and Brazilian Series D), there are 126 participants.
According to the CBF, formatting is inspired by national European hearts, which also offer opportunities for small associations. In the extreme case, the FA Cup (the England Cup, the oldest football tournament in the world), are over 700 clubs.
“It’s a very common design. I invite everyone to look at other Cups in Spain in England, Italy. In our case, Serie A clubs enter more advanced phases. This reduces the number of dates they play, and we get greater efficiency in the calendar,” said Avellar.
From 2027, will also have a place in the Brazilian Cup also the winners of the reactivated North Cup and the Midwest Cup and the new South-Southeast Cup. All will be played from March 25 to June 7.
These competitions will not have teams that have been participating in South American events-Copa Libertadores and Copa Sudamericana. In South-Southeast, for example, will have two representatives from each of the following states: Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Minas Gerais, Rio Grande do Sul, Paraná and Santa Catarina.
At the present moment, the teams with the right to vacancy would be: Corinthians, Santos, Volta Redonda, Sampaio Corrêa-RJ, Atlético Mineiro, International, Youth, América-MG, Operário-PR, champion or deputy of the FPF Cup (Paraná), Avaí and Chapecoense.
But it is important to note that participation is optional. Clubs such as Corinthians, Atlético Mineiro and Internacional, for example, would most likely give up their places, as the tournament is turned more to the base than to the top of the national football pyramid.
“I see positive points,” said Eduardo Cork, Marketing Professor at Insper who acts as Director General of EMW Global for Latin America. “For clubs, the expansion of the Brazilian Cup and the D Series means more games, the largest box office and the largest exhibition for local and regional brands, something fundamental for medium and small teams, which have a longer and more predictable calendar.”
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
