FGF Unveils Gauchão 2027: Format, Groups, and VAR Implementation Confirmed

The Federação Gaúcha de Futebol (FGF) has officially announced the details for the Campeonato Gaúcho 2027, confirming the tournament will kick off on January 9 and conclude on March 7. The format remains consistent with the previous year, featuring 12 teams divided into two groups of six. Group A comprises Grêmio, Caxias, Guarany, Passo Fundo, Monsoon, and São José, while Group B includes Internacional, Brasil-Pel, Juventude, Ypiranga, Novo Hamburgo, and São Luiz.

In an interesting twist to the first phase, each team will play six matches against all members of the opposing group, a continuity from the prior edition. The top four teams of each group will progress to the quarter-finals, which will be single-elimination matches, while the semi-finals will be contested over two legs. Teams finishing fifth and sixth in their respective groups will enter a quadrangular phase, where the bottom two squads face relegation to the Gauchão Série A2 for the 2028 season.

One significant update is the introduction of Video Assistant Referee (VAR) technology from the tournament's very first round, marking a major development in officiating standards. Additionally, referees from outside Rio Grande do Sul will be eligible to officiate in the quarter-final stages, reflecting FGF's efforts to enhance the competition's quality.

The Technical Council meeting held on November 11, 2026, saw approval of the competition format by most clubs, with only Guarany and Passo Fundo dissenting. The event also celebrated the return of Passo Fundo and Brasil-Pel to the first division, a milestone hailed by their representatives as significant for their clubs and communities.

The official launch event in Porto Alegre highlighted these updates, alongside other sports news such as Internacional's victory in the Copa do Brasil Feminina final. Overall, the Gauchão 2027 promises a competitive and technologically enhanced tournament for Rio Grande do Sul football fans.