In search of breaking a 34-year fast, the Vasco enters the 2026 São Paulo Junior Football Cup with the mission of regaining the title that hasn’t been won since 1992. Cruzmaltino’s debut will be this Friday (03/01), when they face Velo Clube-SP, at 7:30 pm (Brasília time), at the Estádio Municipal José Vessi, in Cravinhos (SP), the venue for all of the club’s games in the group stage.
Vasco’s only trophy in the country’s most traditional grassroots competition happened more than three decades ago, with a team that included striker Valdir Bigode.
Vasco’s squad for Copinha 2026
In the current edition of Copinha, Vasco registered 30 athletes from the 2004 to 2008 generations to compete in the tournament. The list was confirmed by the club in mid-December and includes some names that have already had opportunities in the professional squad during the 2025 season.
Among the highlights, midfielder Lukas Zuccarello (2006) appears as one of the club’s main bets. Born in Pomerode (SC), the young number 10 arrived at Vasco in 2022 and is seen internally as one of the academy’s greatest talents. Zuccarello has already had opportunities with the first team and is known for his ability to create and vision of the game, being compared by fans to Philippe Coutinho for his movements and style of play.
Another name that draws attention is striker Bruno Lopes (2007), who has a training contract with the club until 2026. The young striker has stood out for his versatility and eye for goal, forming a promising attacking duo with other players from the Vasco base.
The team also has experienced athletes within the category, such as goalkeeper Allan Vitor (2004) and striker Maxsuell Alegria (2004), who add maturity to the group. On the other hand, the cast features young talents such as Léo Felix (2008) and Pedro Augusto (2008).
As some base athletes can be used by coach Ramon Menezes in the first rounds of the professional Carioca Championship, which will also start in January, the Copinha team will be made up mainly of younger players, ensuring that both the São Paulo and state competitions have competitive squads.
Cravinhos as Vasco’s home in the first phase of Copinha 2026
Top seed in Group 12, which also includes Velo Clube-SP, Guanabara City-GO and I9 de Ribeirão Preto-SP, Vasco will compete in all the commitments of the first phase at the Estádio Municipal José Vessi, located in Cravinhos, in the metropolitan region of Ribeirão Preto (SP). If they advance to the knockout stages and present a better campaign than their opponents, the club will have priority in choosing the field manager.
The city of Cravinhos, around 320 kilometers from the capital of São Paulo, will host Cruz-Maltino at its facilities for the first time.
Vasco games in the group stage of Copinha 2026
Group 12
- January 3rd (Friday), 7:30 pm (Brasília time): Vasco x Velo Clube-SP – José Vessi Municipal Stadium (Cravinhos) – Broadcast: CazéTV (YouTube)
- January 6th (Tuesday), 3pm (Brasília time): Guanabara City-GO x Vasco – José Vessi Municipal Stadium (Cravinhos) – Broadcast: XSports
- January 9th (Friday), 7:30 pm (Brasília time): Vasco x I9 from Ribeirão Preto-SP – José Vessi Municipal Stadium (Cravinhos) – Broadcast: CazéTV (YouTube)
History of Vasco in Copinha
Vasco was only champion of the Copinha in 1992, 34 years ago, and since then has sought to regain the most important trophy in Brazilian football’s youth categories. In 2025, the team was eliminated in the quarter-finals by Corinthians, who won 1-0, at the Bruno José Daniel Stadium, in Santo André (SP).
Despite the title slipping away, the results were considered positive by the board, with some players standing out during the competition.
MORE: Copinha 2026 table: groups, games and where to watch
