The CBF (Brazilian Football Confederation) announced this Monday (24) a reformulation in the country’s women’s football competitions, with an increase in the number of participating clubs and matches in the three divisions of the Brazilian Championship and the Copa do Brasil from 2026.
According to Samir Xaud, president of the CBF, the changes aim to stimulate the growth of football played by women in Brazil.
“Just as we did in men’s football, we spent the last few months analyzing and studying opportunities to improve the calendar and the promotion of women’s football. We listened to experts, federations, clubs, players and arrived at the model that meets important demands, placing Brazilian women’s football where it deserves to be”, stated the director during the presentation of the new calendar at the CBF headquarters, in Rio de Janeiro.
Xaud stated that, in order to give more visibility to women’s football, the CBF will “guarantee” the transmission of 100% of A1 matches, the first division of the Brazilian Championship in the category.
He added that, for athletes who are lactating mothers, the CBF will start offering financial assistance so that their children can travel with them to competitions.
“It’s sustainable growth, observing the FIFA and Conmebol calendars, giving women from elite clubs a more predictable, rational schedule, and, at the same time, providing more chances for those at the base of the pyramid, dreaming of growing up,” said Xaud.
A1, which in 2025 ran from March 23 to September 14, will begin earlier in 2026, on February 15, and end later, with closure scheduled for October 4.
The current format will be maintained, with all teams facing each other in a first phase, with the best eight advancing to the knockout stage.
There will also be an increase in the number of participants, from 16 to 18 teams, with the two worst relegated to A2, and the four best in the second division accessing the elite.
With this, the total number of matches increases from 134 to 167, and the dates on the calendar reserved for the competition, from 21 to 23.
Under the new model, A1 reaches 20 participating clubs in 2027, with this number remaining until 2028.
A2, in turn, will take place between March 14th and September 19th – in 2025, it was April 19th to August 30th -, with a change in the dispute format.
In 2025, the 16 clubs were divided into two groups of eight, facing each other in a single round with the best eight advancing to the knockout stage. Next year, the 16 clubs will be in a single group, facing all the others in search of a place in the next phase.
Under the new format, the second division of women’s football goes from 70 to 134 matches, and from 13 to 21 dates on the calendar.
The A3, which this year was played between April 26th and August 16th, starts in the next edition on March 21st, with an end scheduled for September 5th.
In 2025, the third division was played with the 32 participating clubs divided into eight groups of four, in round-robin games only, with each club having a minimum of three matches. From 2026, there will be round-robin games, with a minimum of six matches.
The number of A3 games will increase from 78 to 126 matches, and the number of dates on the calendar will increase from 11 to 14.
The Copa do Brasil, played between May 14th and November 19th, will start on April 22nd and run until November 15th.
The quarterfinals, semifinals and finals, instead of a single game, will now be played in round-trip games. The total number of matches increases from 64 to 72, with the number of dates going from eight to 11.
Of the main competitions in the adult category, only the Women’s Super Cup will be reduced under the new calendar. In 2025, eight clubs will face each other in a knockout format tournament, while in 2026 there will be only two, with the Brazilian champion team (Corinthians) measuring forces with the winner of the Copa do Brasil (Palmeiras), on February 8th.
A1
Date in 2025: from 23.03 to 14.09
Date in 2026: 14.02 to 4.10
Number of participants in 2026: 18
Number of participants in 2027: 20
Number of participants in 2028: 20
Number of matches in 2026: from 134 to 167
Number of dates in 2026: from 21 to 23
A2
Date in 2025: 19.04 to 30.08
Date in 2026: 14.03 to 19.09
Number of participants in 2026: 16
Number of participants in 2027: 18
Number of participants in 2028: 20
Number of matches in 2026: from 70 to 134
Number of dates in 2026: from 13 to 21
A3
Date in 2025: 26.04 to 16.08
Date in 2026: 21.03 to 5.09
Number of participants in 2026: 32
Number of participants in 2027: 32
Number of participants in 2028: 32
Number of matches in 2026: from 78 to 126
Number of dates in 2026: from 11 to 14
Brazilian Cup
Date in 2025: 14.05 to 19.11
Date in 2026: 22.04 to 15.11
Number of participants in 2026: 66
Number of participants in 2027: 70
Number of participants in 2028: 72
Number of matches in 2026: from 64 to 72
Number of dates in 2026: from 8 to 11
