Vasco and Corinthians Set for Copa do Brasil 2025 Final with Maracanã Hosting Second Leg
Vasco and Corinthians are set to contest the 2025 Copa do Brasil final with the second leg slated for Maracanã, impacting Libertadores qualifications including São Paulo's exclusion.
- • Vasco and Corinthians will face off in the 2025 Copa do Brasil final, with the first leg at Neo Química Arena and the second at Maracanã.
- • Vasco players preferred the final's second leg be held at São Januário, but CBF confirmed Maracanã as the venue.
- • Corinthians defeated Cruzeiro in penalties to reach the final; Vasco edged out Fluminense with a late goal.
- • São Paulo FC is excluded from the 2025 Copa Libertadores preliminaries due to the finalists' qualification, shifting to the Copa Sul-Americana instead.
Key details
The 2025 Copa do Brasil final will feature a highly anticipated showdown between Vasco da Gama and Corinthians, with match venues confirmed by the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) despite wishes from Vasco players to host at São Januário.
The two-legged final begins on December 17 at 9:30 pm Brasília time at the Neo Química Arena in São Paulo, home of Corinthians. The return leg is scheduled for December 21 at 6:30 pm at Rio de Janeiro's Maracanã stadium, granting Vasco an iconic venue rather than their traditional home ground.
Vasco secured their spot in the final by defeating Fluminense in a tightly contested semifinal, clinching victory with a late goal from Vegetti. Meanwhile, Corinthians advanced after a nail-biting penalty shootout against Cruzeiro, following a 2-1 loss in regular time but overall a 2-2 aggregate. Goalkeeper Hugo Souza was instrumental, saving two crucial penalties to help secure Corinthians' place in the final.
The venue decision has stirred some disappointment among Vasco players, who expressed a preference for playing at São Januário. Attacker Rayan commented on this, saying, "This fanbase deserves to be happy again. We have been suffering for 25 years. Thank God I managed to reach the final with my beloved club. Let's go play the first game in São Paulo, and if God wills, the return match will be at São Januário."
Beyond the final itself, the matchup has broader implications for Brazilian football competitions. Due to Vasco and Corinthians securing the final spots, São Paulo FC has been excluded from the preliminary phase of the 2025 Copa Libertadores. Despite finishing eighth in the Brasileirão, São Paulo needed specific conditions involving Fluminense or Cruzeiro to qualify for the Libertadores, which were not met. Consequently, São Paulo will compete instead in the 2025 Copa Sul-Americana.
This final marks not only a significant championship clash but also sets the stage for consequential continental competition placements for clubs involved in Brazilian football.
This article was synthesized and translated from native language sources to provide English-speaking readers with local perspectives.
