To understand everything about the Copa do Brasil , you need to understand that it is one of the most exciting and traditional competitions in Brazilian soccer, bringing together clubs from all regions of the country. It’s something unique in our calendar, and something very special that fuels Brazilians’ passion for the sport.
It brings together teams from different states, sizes, traditions and from the different series of Brazilian soccer, making the competition a real quest for glory and national prestige.
That’s why we’ve put together everything about the Copa do Brasil, including its history, rules, operation, great champions, records, prizes and curiosities surrounding this very special tournament.
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All about the Copa do Brasil: what is it?
The Copa do Brasil is a soccer tournament that has been held annually in Brazil since 1989. Organized by the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF), the championship was created with the aim of providing equal opportunities for clubs from different divisions to compete against each other.
So, to understand everything about the Copa do Brasil, it’s important to bear in mind that the competition involves clubs from all divisions of Brazilian soccer, from Serie A teams to Serie B, C and even D teams, as well as state champion clubs.
The aim of the Copa do Brasil is to provide a parallel competition to the state championships and the Brazilian Championship, offering the opportunity for clubs from different regions and divisions to face each other in a knockout format, known as mata-mata.
This means that each match eliminates one of the teams, with only the one that wins the first leg or, in the event of a draw on aggregate, the one that performs better on the tie-break criteria, advancing.
As well as being an important showcase for Brazilian soccer, the Copa do Brasil also guarantees its champion a place in the following year’s Copa Libertadores, which makes all the players’ eyes light up!
History of the Copa do Brasil
The idea of creating a national tournament in Brazil came about as a way of streamlining the Brazilian soccer calendar and providing clubs with a parallel competition to the state championships and the Brazilian Championship.
The first edition of the Copa do Brasil took place in 1989 and 32 clubs took part.
Grêmio was the inaugural champion, beating Sport Recife in the final, in a simpler format, with initial knockout stages and head -to-head matches until the final was reached.
Throughout the 1990s, the Copa do Brasil was consolidated as one of the main competitions on the national calendar.
The inclusion of more clubs, both from series A, series B and even series C of the Brazilian Championship, broadened the competitiveness and scope of the tournament, providing opportunities for teams from different states and divisions to stand out. This openness is currently one of the main characteristics of the tournament and to understand everything about the Copa do Brasil
However, over the years, the format has undergone adjustments to adapt to the demands of Brazilian soccer and international standards.
Currently, it is played in several knockout stages, with back-to-back matches up to the semi-finals, and finals also decided in back-to-back matches, without the away goal criterion as a tie-breaker in the finals.
Who can take part in the Copa do Brasil?
As we showed above, throughout the history of the tournament, a lot has changed and continues to change.
Until 2023, for example, part of the criteria for a team to take part in the competition was the national ranking maintained by the CBF, with the best teams in the country.
However, since 2024, the ranking used by the CBF is that of the federations. It defines how many places each state is entitled to. Currently the division is as follows:
- São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, will be entitled to six places via local competitions;
- Rio Grande do Sul, Minas Gerais and Paraná, five places;
- Ceará, Goiás, Santa Catarina, Bahia, Pernambuco, Alagoas, Mato Grosso, Pará and Maranhão, three;
- the other states, two places.
The federations, with three places, must give two of them to the state champion and runner-up. The third is distributed at the discretion of each entity.
In states with five or six places, the mandatory distribution via state championships rises to three. This determines the participants in each year’s competition.
How does the Copa do Brasil work?
The Copa do Brasil involves the participation of clubs from series A, B, C and D of the Brazilian Championship, as well as state champions and the winners of the Copa Verde and Copa do Nordeste.
In addition to the title of champion, the winner of the Copa do Brasil guarantees a direct place in the Copa Libertadores the following year, reinforcing the importance of following everything about the Copa do Brasil closely.
All about the Copa do Brasil: Copa do Brasil rules
The tournament is played in a knockout format, also known as elimination. The matches are decided in back-to-back games (home and away) until the semi-finals.
The finals are also played over two legs, without the away goal criterion as a tie-breaker in the finals. This is a criterion that was once used by the tournament organization, but is no longer part of the format.
The home and away fixtures are decided by a draw or criteria pre-established by the CBF, taking into account factors such as club rankings and rounds of the competition.
Who are the greatest Copa do Brasil champions?
The greatest champions of the Copa do Brasil are:
- Cruzeiro: 1993, 1996, 2000, 2003, 2017 and 2018
- Grêmio: 1989, 1994, 1997, 2001 and 2016
- Flamengo: 1990, 2006, 2013 and 2022
- Palmeiras: 1998, 2012, 2015 and 2020
- Corinthians: 1995, 2002 and 2009
- Atlético-MG: 2014 and 2021
The other winning clubs in the competition have only won one title.
What is the prize money for the Copa do Brasil?
The prize money for the Copa do Brasil varies from edition to edition, but in 2024 it was as follows:
- First phase: R$1.47 million (Serie A) R$1.312.5 million (Serie B) and R$787.5 thousand (other clubs)
- Second phase: R$1.785 million (Série A), R$1.47 million (Série B) and R$945 thousand (other clubs)
- Third stage: R$2.205 million
- Round of 16: R$3.465 million
- Quarter-finals: R$4.515 million
- Semifinals: R$9.45 million
- Runners-up: R$31.5 million
- Champion: R$73.5 million
Now you have a complete guide to everything about the Copa do Brasil and can cheer on your favorite team with much more enthusiasm!
Without a doubt, we’re talking about one of the competitions that attracts the most attention from all over Brazil. Not to mention the excellent financial prizes on offer.
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