Remember the journeys of Brazilian teams 🇧🇷 making their Libertadores debut | OneFootball

The big surprise of the 2025 Brasileirão, Mirassol has confirmed what was already considered a certainty: it will compete in next year’s Libertadores.

The spot in the second preliminary phase is mathematically guaranteed. Now, the goal is to secure a place in the prestigious group stage.

The Leão do Interior will be the 32nd different Brazilian team to play in the tournament.

And the tenth from the State of São Paulo. 

See below which teams have participated at least once in the competition since the first edition, back in 1960.

Náutico - 1968

The Timbu played in the Libertadores after finishing as runners-up in the previous year’s Taça Brasil – Palmeiras took the trophy.

There were two wins, two draws, and two losses in Group 5, totaling six points – each win was worth two points.

But the Alvirrubro lost the points from their victory over Venezuelan side Deportivo Português (3-2 at Aflitos). They made three substitutions, but only two were allowed.

They ended with four points and saw Deportivo Português (five points) advance along with leaders Palmeiras, who had 11.

The Timbu ended the current season returning to Série B of the Brazilian Championship.

Bangu - 1986

Runners-up in the 1985 Brasileirão, the Alvirrubro did not succeed in their only Libertadores appearance.

Only the leader of each of the five groups advanced. Bangu earned just two points in six matches, finishing last.

Barcelona de Guayaquil advanced with eight points. Coritiba and Deportivo Quito, both with seven, were also eliminated.

The Rio team has never come close to securing another spot in South American tournaments. Their last Brasileirão appearance was in 1988.

The current mission is to make good campaigns again in the elite of the Carioca championship. 

Criciúma - 1992

Champions of the 1991 Copa do Brasil under the then-unknown Luiz Felipe Scolari, the Tigre had the best campaign of any team that only played in the Libertadores once. 

They were in Group 2 along with São Paulo – then Brazilian champions – and Bolivian teams Bolívar and San José.

The carvoeira team advanced as group leaders: nine points, against eight for SPFC.

They knocked out Sporting Cristal with two wins in the round of 16, but fell when they met future champions São Paulo again, exiting in the quarterfinals. 

Juventude - 2000

They played that edition after winning the 1999 Copa do Brasil by beating Botafogo at Maracanã in front of over 100,000 fans.

Papo reached the final round of Group 7 in the Libertadores with a chance to qualify.

But they needed to beat Palmeiras by a good goal difference. Or a simple win and a slip by El Nacional.

They drew 1-1 with the São Paulo team at Jaconi and saw the Ecuadorians thrash The Strongest away. They bid farewell to the Libertadores undefeated in front of their fans. 

They returned to a South American tournament in 2005, playing the Sudamericana after a good Brasileirão in 2004.

The current focus is to avoid relegation to Série B.

Paysandu - 2003

Paysandu made history by winning the 2002 Copa dos Campeões, a tournament that brought together participants from the Rio-São Paulo Tournament, Copa Sul-Minas, Copa do Nordeste, Copa Centro-Oeste, and Copa Norte.

And Papão started by surprising everyone in the group stage of the 2003 Libertadores.

They led with four wins and two draws. Only Corinthians and Santos had better campaigns. 

And they shocked everyone by beating Boca Juniors at La Bombonera in the first leg of the round of 16. Iarley – who would later play for the Argentine club – scored the goal.

Only Pelé’s Santos and Ronaldo’s Cruzeiro had achieved such a feat before.

But the dream of reaching the quarterfinals ended in the return leg: future champions Boca won 4-2. 

Papão just suffered relegation to Série C.

They haven’t played in the Brasileirão elite since 2005.

Santo André - 2005

The first of two big upsets in a row in the Copa do Brasil was staged by Ramalhão in 2004.

After a 2-2 draw in the first leg, Santo André beat Flamengo 2-0 at Maracanã, securing the title and a spot in the Libertadores.

They weren’t even playing in the Brasileirão elite that year. They reached the second phase of Série B, but failed to secure promotion.

And Santo André almost advanced to the knockout stage in their only Libertadores appearance.

They were in the same group as Palmeiras and beat Verdão 2-1. They also thrashed Táchira 6-0, but finished third with eight points.

They reached Série A in 2009, ending a long hiatus. But couldn’t stay in the elite.

The current goal is to return to the Paulistão elite. They even reached the knockout stage of Série A2 last year, but fell to future runners-up Primavera. 

Goiás - 2006

Esmeraldino was one of the great sensations of the 2005 Brasileirão.

They finished third thanks to several standout players: Harlei, Jadilson, Rodrigo Tabata, Paulo Baier, Roni, and Souza. 

They secured a spot in the preliminary phase of the 2006 Libertadores and reached the group stage after eliminating Ecuador’s Deportivo Cuenca. 

And they did well, reaching the round of 16 as leaders of Group 3, leaving Newell’s Old Boys in second place.

The dream ended against Estudiantes. They lost 2-0 in Argentina, won 3-1 at home, but saw the La Plata team advance on away goals.

Paulista - 2006

Galo da Japi, managed by Vagner Mancini, made history by winning the 2005 Copa do Brasil over Fluminense – right in their debut in the competition. 

They also weren’t in the Brasileirão elite that year – a feat never before achieved in their history. They finished 15th in Série B with 28 points. Vitória, the first relegated team, had 27. 

Paulista went undefeated at home in that Libertadores. And their only win was “just” over River Plate (2-1).

But the six points earned were not enough to reach the round of 16. 

They were not a club that “capitalized” on their glory days. Their last appearance in the Paulistão elite was in 2014. Their last Série B? In 2007. 

Paraná - 2007

Tricolor did well in the 2006 Brasileirão, finishing fifth and securing a spot in the preliminary phase of the following year’s Libertadores. 

They reached the group stage by eliminating Cobreloa.

They were in the same group as Flamengo, advancing to the round of 16 with nine points. 

The historic campaign ended there, as they were eliminated by Libertad.

They haven’t played in the Brasileirão elite since 2018. And have already been relegated twice in the Paranaense. 

Their reality in 2026 will be to try to return to the local elite and then seek a spot in Série D.

They are heading into their fourth consecutive season without playing in any national division. 

América Mineiro - 2022

Coelho stood out in the 2021 Brasileirão by finishing eighth – and securing a spot in the second preliminary phase of the Libertadores.

They struggled, but reached the group stage after eliminating Guaraní and Barcelona de Guayaquil on penalties.

Their performance at home – three losses – was decisive in being eliminated in last place in a group that also included Atlético-MG.

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

📸 DOUGLAS MAGNO