Brazil win CONMEBOL Liga Evolução North Zone for 8th time

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·9. Juni 2026

Brazil win CONMEBOL Liga Evolução North Zone for 8th time

Last Sunday (7), fans of the Brazilian beach soccer national team went through a roller coaster of emotions. After an unexpected loss to Venezuela in the penultimate round on Saturday, only a win over Ecuador in the final match of the CONMEBOL Liga Evolución North Zone group would give Brazil the tournament title for the eighth time. And that is exactly what happened. Through grit and resilience, Brazil came from behind to beat the hosts and maintained a 100% record in the competition’s group stage. Now, the team awaits the winner of the South Zone group to play in the 2026 final.

The title was built on the back of great resilience from both the under-20 and senior squads. In the opening round, against Peru, came the only more comfortable matches, with wins of 6-2 for the younger side and 3-2 for the senior national team. In the second round, Brazil had a bye and returned to the field only on Friday (5) for the third round. From then on, the matches were decided in dramatic fashion.

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Under-20 and senior national teams won this year’s titleCredits: Disclosure/Conmebol

The under-20 team lost to Colombia on penalties, 4-3, after regular time ended 2-2 and no one scored in extra time. Among the senior teams, Brazil won 6-5, with the sixth goal coming in extra time.

In the fourth round came a clash that could have sealed the fate of the teams coached by Chicão Castelo Branco and Juninho. Venezuela, a national team that has been improving every year, took the under-20 match to penalties, and Brazil won 7-6. In the match between the senior teams, however, Venezuela made history and defeated Brazil for the first time: 3-2.

The results left Venezuela at the top of the standings after the fourth round, putting them in a comfortable position, needing only to depend on themselves to take the title. All they had to do was beat Colombia in both categories in the final round. For Brazil, all that remained was to hope for a Venezuelan slip-up and beat Ecuador, the tournament host.

Venezuela and Colombia played earlier and, despite Venezuela’s win in the under-20 category, they were beaten on penalties in the match between the senior teams. That meant Brazil knew that two wins would secure the title. Showing great determination, the under-20 side cruised to a 6-1 win, but in the final match, the story was different. Roared on by their fans, the Ecuadorians put in a great performance and were leading 4-3 with three minutes left, but defender Digão scored twice in a row to turn the game around. In the final seconds, captain Zé Lucas scored the sixth goal and sealed the Brazilian title, making Brazil the only champion of the North Zone group to this day. There have been eight titles: 2017, 2018, 2019, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025 and 2026.

Brazil are eight-time champions of the CONMEBOL Liga Evolución North Zone groupCredits: Disclosure/Conmebol

“It was an achievement built on the dedication and effort of every athlete and member of the coaching staff. They all deserve congratulations,” praised CBF beach soccer director Mauro Carmélio.

SEE THE FULL CAMPAIGN:

CONMEBOL Liga Evolución 2026 North Zone Group

May 3 to 7, 2026

Las Palmas Beach, Esmeraldas, ECU

Round 1 - Wednesday, 6/3

- Under-20: Peru 2 x 6 Brazil - Brazil goals: Yuri (2), Carlos, Daniel, Eduardo and Girlian

- Senior: Peru 2 x 3 Brazil - Brazil goals: Miguel Jr. (2) and Dener

Round 2 - Thursday, 6/4

- Brazil had a bye

Round 3 - Friday, 6/5

- Under-20: Brazil 2 (3) x (4) 2 Colombia (penalties) - Brazil goals: João Pedro (2)

- Senior: Brazil 6 x 5 Colombia (Extra Time) - Brazil goals: Dener (3), Matheus “Show”, Xandy and Fabrício (Extra Time)