CBF Unveils Expanded and Enhanced 2026 Women's Football Calendar in Brazil
CBF announces expanded women's football calendar for 2026, increasing teams, matches, prize money and player support in Brazil.
- • Série A1 expands from 16 to 18 teams with 167 matches in total.
- • Prize money doubled, with R$2 million for the Brasileirão champion.
- • Copa do Brasil introduces two-legged knockout stages from quarter-finals.
- • Support for lactating players includes travel cost coverage for children.
Key details
The Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) has announced significant changes and expansions in the 2026 women's football calendar, aiming to boost the growth and visibility of the sport in Brazil. The revamped schedule features enlarged tournaments, increased financial incentives, and new player support initiatives.
The Campeonato Brasileiro Feminino Série A1 will expand from 16 to 18 teams, increasing total matches from 134 to 167 and matchdays from 21 to 26. The season kicks off on February 15, 2026. Both the champion and runner-up will qualify directly for the Copa Libertadores. Prize money has also increased substantially, with the champion receiving R$2 million and the runner-up R$1 million. Participating clubs will earn R$720,000 plus R$20,000 for each televised match.
The Copa do Brasil Feminina will welcome 66 teams and adopt a home-and-away knockout format from the quarter-finals onwards, raising the total games to 72. The tournament starts in April 2026. The Supercopa Feminina will be played as a single match on February 8, 2026, featuring the reigning Brasileirão champion, Corinthians, and Copa do Brasil champion, Palmeiras, mirroring the men’s competition.
An important initiative underlines support for lactating players, with CBF committing to cover travel expenses for mothers and their babies during competitions. All Série A1 teams are also required to have professional contracts with players by 2027.
CBF President Samir Xaud highlighted the calendar's goal to foster expansion and increase the number of games and clubs involved. Additionally, youth competitions like the sub-20 and sub-17 leagues will implement new formats ensuring 100% broadcast coverage on CBF’s channel.
These measures reflect a concerted effort by the CBF to strengthen women’s football infrastructure, increase investment, improve professionalization, and enhance visibility, marking a transformative step for the sport in Brazil heading into 2026.
This article was synthesized and translated from native language sources to provide English-speaking readers with local perspectives.