The two finalists of the Copa do Brasil will be announced this Sunday (14). Corinthians and Vasco have an advantage, respectively, over Cruzeiro and Fluminense and could play with the possibility of a draw to advance.
The sporting success over the weekend will fuel fans’ hopes of a title. And it will represent an important financial contribution, something that is valid for the four teams still alive in the competition, but especially for Corinthians.
The club’s total debt is around R$2.7 billion, and that’s not even the most important number, at least right now. With cash flow problems notorious, the board is trying to balance short-term obligations to breathe in 2026.
One of the urgent matters is to pay around R$40 million to Santos Laguna, from Mexico, to hire Félix Torres. Due to the failure to acquire the Ecuadorian defender, the black and white club was punished by FIFA (International Football Federation) with a “transfer ban” and is prevented from registering players.
This means that, if Lionel Messi expresses his desire to play for Corinthians for minimum wage tomorrow, Corinthians will not be able to sign him up. It does not appear that this is the Argentine star’s will, but perhaps it was that of striker Pedro Rocha, top scorer in Serie B of the Brazilian Championship for Remo, who was interviewed, but has already signed with Coritiba, without a “transfer ban”.
The pending issue regarding Félix Torres is not the only one. The club has already been condemned by FIFA for debts relating to the signings of Rodrigo Garro and Maycon, this one on loan, and is awaiting sentences from the CAS (Sports Court of Arbitration). The club also owes around R$45 million to midfielder Matías Rojas, who at least appears willing to reach an agreement to avoid yet another sanction.
As you can see, the situation is serious. Advancing to the final of the Copa do Brasil and earning R$ 33.075 million – or even winning it, which would yield another R$ 44.1 million – will not resolve the issue, but it will bring important relief in the short term.
President Osmar Stabile has already obtained from one of Corinthians’ controlling bodies – Cori (Guidance Council) – authorization to seek a loan of R$ 100 million, an advance from the LFU (Liga Forte União) of the Brazilian broadcasting rights agreement, with a discount on 2026 payments and an interest rate of 17.9% per year.
“Cori left it authorized. We’ll see if it’s necessary or not. If it is, we’ll have authorization. If it’s not, we won’t take it,” said Stabile, in an evident reference to the Copa do Brasil award – which also offers the possibility of income from ticket sales from the decision.
That won’t be what the black and white fans will be thinking about from 6pm on Sunday, at the Itaquera stadium. In need of glory, he just wants the chance to be champion of a national tournament, something he hasn’t celebrated since the 2017 Brazilian Championship. After a great game and a 1-0 victory at Mineirão, in Belo Horizonte, last Wednesday, coach Dorival Júnior’s team will try to protect their advantage in São Paulo.
Then, at 8:30 pm, on the other side of the bracket, Fluminense and Vasco will face each other again at Maracanã, in Rio de Janeiro. In the first game, at the same location, on Thursday (11), Vasco won 2-1, with a goal in stoppage time.
