Palmeiras Under-20 step up Copinha 2026 preparations in Barueri

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Nosso Palestra

·18 December 2025

Palmeiras Under-20 step up Copinha 2026 preparations in Barueri

The Palmeiras Under-20 team remains strong in its preparations for the Copa São Paulo de Futebol Júnior 2026. Since regrouping, the Verdão squad has been training at the Football Academy, fully focused on the team's debut in the competition. The first challenge will be against Monte Roraima-RR, on January 5th (Monday), at 7:30 PM (Brasília time), at the Arena Crefisa Barueri.

One of the main standouts for Palmeiras’ Under-20 team throughout 2025, midfielder Coutinho was a guaranteed starter during the campaign that led to the Brazilian Championship title in the category. At 19 years old, the player heads into the next edition of the Copinha as one of the most experienced members of the group and is looking to win his first title in the tournament.

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The season was very tough. We were champions of the Brazilian Championship, had a very difficult Paulista. We took a few days off, managed to clear our minds, and came back with everything. The team is working really well, everyone is focused, with the same goal. It’s a group with a lot of experience, a winning mentality, and I’m sure everyone here will enter with the goal of being champions.

Taking on a new role within the squad, the midfielder highlighted the importance of sharing his experience with the younger players in the group.

I’ve been part of several squads where I was one of the youngest, and now I’ll have the opportunity to pass on that experience to those coming up. This will be very important for my career. I arrived at Palmeiras in 2021, won titles in almost every category, so I have a lot of experience at the club.

Coutinho also emphasized the significance of the Copinha in the Under-20 calendar, especially due to the great visibility the competition provides for young athletes.

The Copinha is the World Cup of the youth divisions. Everyone stops to watch, it’s an opportunity we have to showcase our football to everyone. The fans follow it more closely since it’s at the start of the year, so the Copinha is very meaningful for us. All the main Brazilian clubs play, it’s very important for those of us who want to move up to the professional level.

Palmeiras is aiming for its third title in the Copa São Paulo de Futebol Júnior. The first victory came in 2022, when the Academy Kids thrashed Santos 4-0 in the final. In 2023, Verdão became two-time champions by defeating América-MG 2-1 in the final.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.