CBF Unveils Expanded 2026 Calendars for Campeonato Brasileiro and Youth Competitions
CBF has revealed the 2026 football calendar, expanding youth tournaments and adjusting senior league formats to enhance competition and international qualification pathways.
- • CBF released the 2026 schedule for senior and youth football competitions in Brazil.
- • Senior Campeonato Brasileiro starts January 28-29 with 38 rounds and adjusted Libertadores qualification.
- • Youth competitions see expansions: Sub-20 Copa do Brasil grows from 32 to 64 teams; Sub-15 Copa do Brasil introduced.
- • Supercopas for Sub-20 and Sub-17 return after a hiatus, featuring champions from key youth tournaments.
Key details
The Confederação Brasileira de Futebol (CBF) has announced significant updates to the 2026 schedules and formats of key Brazilian football competitions, including the senior Campeonato Brasileiro and multiple youth tournaments. These changes aim to enhance competition intensity and development across all levels.
For the senior Campeonato Brasileiro, the competition will begin its season on January 28-29, 2026, featuring 38 rounds. A notable rule modification allows players to participate in up to 12 matches for a club before transferring, an increase from the previous six-match limit. Qualification for the Copa Libertadores has also been adjusted: the top four teams will now advance directly to the group stage, with only the fifth-placed team entering preliminary rounds. Importantly, the Copa do Brasil champion secures a direct Libertadores berth, reshaping qualification dynamics.
Youth football experiences major growth. The Sub-20 and Sub-17 Brasileiros will maintain 20 participating teams but expand from 198 to 204 matches. Knockout rounds, such as quarterfinals and semifinals, will adopt home-and-away legs to intensify competition. The Supercopas for Sub-20 and Sub-17 — contested between Brasileirão and Copa do Brasil champions — return after a hiatus since 2021, bringing back high-stakes ‘champion versus champion’ showdowns.
Significantly, CBF introduces the Copa do Brasil Sub-15, involving 32 clubs. This tournament will feature a regionalized first phase with eight groups of four teams, followed by knockout rounds. The Copa do Brasil Sub-20 doubles its roster from 32 to 64 teams, boosting matches from 45 to 77 and offering broader competitive exposure for young talents.
All competitions are scheduled to avoid clashes with FIFA international windows, ensuring national team preparations are unhindered. The calendar may still be fine-tuned in response to pending international tournament schedules.
These comprehensive adjustments underscore CBF's commitment to advancing Brazilian football's competitive structure and player development pathways at both senior and youth levels.
This article was synthesized and translated from native language sources to provide English-speaking readers with local perspectives.
