CBF changes Libertadores spots between Brasileirão and Copa do Brasil

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·16 décembre 2025

CBF changes Libertadores spots between Brasileirão and Copa do Brasil

What has changed in the allocation of spots for the Libertadores?

After the Technical Council meeting, the CBF published on Monday (15) significant changes to the regulations for the upcoming season. Among them is the new qualification model for the Libertadores.

Until the 2025 season, the Brasileirão guaranteed six spots in the Libertadores. The top four teams went straight to the group stage, while the fifth and sixth placed teams qualified for the preliminary round.

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WHAT HAS CHANGED?

Starting in 2026, the national championship will guarantee direct access to the group stage of the Libertadores for the champion through to the fourth place finisher. On the other hand, the fifth place will compete in the preliminary round.

This adjustment is due to the Copa do Brasil, which, starting from the next edition, will send two clubs directly to the Libertadores, increasing the total number of Brazilian representatives. The champion goes straight to the group stage, while the runner-up goes to the preliminary round.

HOW WILL IT WORK?

• Qualified for the group stage: the top 4 from the Brasileirão + the champion of the Copa do Brasil. • Qualified for the pre-Libertadores: the 5th from the Brasileirão + the runner-up of the Copa do Brasil.

WHAT IF THE COPA DO BRASIL CHAMPION FINISHES IN THE G4 OF THE BRASILEIRÃO?

If the champion of the Copa do Brasil finishes in the G4 of the Brasileirão, the runner-up will go directly to the group stage of the Libertadores. In contrast, the preliminary round spot will go to the highest placed team in the national championship not already qualified.

WHAT ARE SOME EXAMPLES?

If a club qualifies for the Libertadores through both the Brasileirão and the Copa do Brasil, it will keep the best entry option. The other, lower-level qualification will go to the Brasileirão.

Example: if club ‘x’ is champion of the Brasileirão (group stage spot) and runner-up of the Copa do Brasil (pre-Libertadores spot), it will keep the direct spot, and the pre-Libertadores spot will go to the Brasileirão.

If a Brazilian club wins the Libertadores, the additional spot in the competition continues to be allocated via the Brasileirão, as has been the case.
If the Copa do Brasil champion already has access to the Libertadores through other competitions, this direct spot will go to the Copa do Brasil runner-up. In this case, the pre-Libertadores spot that would have gone to the runner-up will go to the highest placed team in the Brasileirão previously outside the qualification zone.

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