CBF holds technical council for new Série D with higher fees | OneFootball

Rodrigo Cintra, Helder Melillo, and Julio Avellar at the Technical Council of the 2026 Série DCredits: Rafael Ribeiro / CBF

Representatives of the 96 clubs in the Brasileirão Série D, the largest number of teams in the competition's history, participated on the afternoon of this Thursday (5th) in the tournament's Technical Council, held virtually. For this historic edition, the CBF increased participation quotas by 64%: from R$ 40 million to R$ 65.5 million.

In a historic season, with unprecedented national inclusion, the championship will jump from 510 to 610 matches and will ensure a minimum of ten to 14 games per club and a maximum of 22 duels for the finalists. In this way, the CBF fulfills the commitment made in the announcement of the new calendar for professional men's football, one of whose main guidelines was to ensure more games at the base of the Brazilian football pyramid.

CBF Executive Director, Helder Melillo, at the 2026 Série D Technical CouncilCredits: Rafael Ribeiro/CBF

At the CBF headquarters in Rio de Janeiro, the meeting was conducted by the entity's executive director, Helder Melillo, and the Competitions Director, Julio Avellar, and was attended by directors and presidents of federations.

"This year we will have a historic edition with 96 clubs, which represents a very important step in strengthening the base of the Brazilian football pyramid. Our goal is to expand opportunities for teams from all regions of the country, ensuring more games, greater visibility, even more attractive participation quotas for clubs, and better participation conditions," explained CBF Executive Director, Helder Melillo.

CBF Competitions Director, Julio Avellar, highlighted the growth of Série DCredits: Rafael Ribeiro / CBF

“The Série D Technical Council reaffirmed CBF's commitment to strengthening and valuing football throughout the country. The competition now includes 96 clubs, further expanding national representation and creating opportunities for teams from all regions,” highlighted Julio Avellar.

“Furthermore, the expansion of access, with six clubs securing a spot in Série C of 2027, makes the competition even more competitive and attractive. All this is the result of constant dialogue with the clubs and an effort to make Série D increasingly organized, strong, and representative of Brazilian football,” added Avellar.

Vice President of the Amapaense Football Federation, Netto Góes, at the 2026 Série D Technical CouncilCredits: Rafael Ribeiro/CBF

Competition Format

Série D will be held from April 5 to September 13, over 24 dates (22 on weekends and two midweek). In the first phase, there will be 16 groups, with six teams each, from which the top four will advance to the second phase. There will be ten rounds, and each team will play five home games and five away games.

In each knockout phase and playoffs, the confrontations will take place in home and away games. The four clubs eliminated in the quarter-finals will have a new chance to ascend to Série C of 2027 in the playoffs, created by the CBF to ensure more competitiveness and excitement in the tournament.

The four semi-finalists, as well as the playoff winners, secure access to Série C of 2027. The champion will qualify directly for the third phase of the 2027 Copa do Brasil.

CBF held the 2026 Série D Technical CouncilCredits: Rafael Ribeiro/CBF

Check the prize quotas:

1st Phase: R$ 500,000 (96 clubs) - (New clubs will be entitled to an additional R$ 8,000 for the acquisition of defibrillators, a mandatory item for holding a game)

2nd Phase: R$ 100,000 (64 clubs)

3rd Phase: R$ 150,000 (32 clubs)

4th Phase (Round of 16): R$ 180,000 (16 clubs)

5th Phase (Quarter-finals): R$ 180,000 (8 clubs)

Playoffs: R$ 180,000 (4 clubs)

6th Phase (Semi-final): R$ 180,000 (4 clubs)

7th Phase (Final): R$ 300,000 (2 clubs)

President of the CBF Arbitration Commission, Rodrigo Cintra, at the 2026 Série D Technical CouncilCredits: Rafael Ribeiro / CBF

Details of this edition

Until August 7, clubs can register a maximum of 50 athletes, of which a maximum of eight can be replaced until September 25.

An athlete can be registered by another Série D club after the start of the competition, only from the second phase and provided they have played for an original club disqualified in the first phase. An athlete who has played for a club in Série D can only play for one more club in Série D. Playing is considered the act of the athlete entering the field to compete in the match, from the start or during the match.

President of the Sergipana Football Federation, Milton Dantas, at the 2026 Série D Technical CouncilCredits: Rafael Ribeiro/CBF

The CBF will cover logistics expenses (transportation, accommodation, and meals) for 32 members, including athletes and technical staff of the visiting clubs, refereeing, and anti-doping tests.

VAR will be used from the third phase of Série D.

President of the Cearense Football Federation, Mauro Carmélio, at the 2026 Série D Technical CouncilCredits: Rafael Ribeiro/CBF

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