São Paulo FA president on new competition format

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Central do Timão

·14 novembre 2025

São Paulo FA president on new competition format

By Fabio Luigi / Central do Timão Editorial Team

Last Tuesday (11), the launch event for the 2026 Campeonato Paulista took place at Mercado Livre Arena Pacaembu. Unlike recent years, the tournament will have a new format inspired by the Champions League. The first phase of the state championship will have eight rounds and will follow a round-robin format, where not all teams will face each other.

Corinthians, in addition to facing Palmeiras, São Paulo, and Santos, who were part of Pot A in the draw, will also play against two teams from Pot B and C, as well as one from Pot D. The Alvinegro’s opponents, apart from the three biggest rivals, will be: Capivariano, Ponte Preta, RB Bragantino, Velo Clube, and São Bernardo.

Vidéos OneFootball

Photo: Rebeca Reis/Agência Paulistão

In an interview with the press in the mixed zone, the president of the Federação Paulista de Futebol (FPF) commented on the new format of the state championship, the possibility of expanding the tournament from 11 to 12 match dates – including the possibility of a two-legged final, maintaining the rules regarding List B, and synthetic pitches in Brazilian football.

It’s worth noting that Corinthians is the biggest state champion in São Paulo with 31 titles, the latest of which was won in March this year, against Palmeiras, in the grand final held at Neo Química Arena.

New Paulistão Format

“I saw it with great enthusiasm in every context, with the formula, the way it was presented, the care we took, with their decision. It was a long technical council, it ended after eight-thirty at night, all topics were discussed in detail. We left optimistic, all of us optimistic. We’re going to make the best championship ever.”

Number of youth players registered by clubs in the competition – List B / Can clubs ‘neglect’ the competition by giving space to many youth players?

“No, this year there were already 10 players on List B and it remains 10 players on List B. There was no change in this regard.”

“No, that’s not going to happen. Clubs will have to reinvent themselves, probably with a slightly larger squad. It won’t be easy, but it will be, there won’t be priorities. The championship is highly competitive, clubs with eight match dates have six classics to play, that possibility doesn’t exist. Clubs will put everyone on the field and choose the best two.”

Is there a possibility to expand the number of match dates from 11 to 12 – two-legged final? Are there talks with the CBF?

“So, I haven’t talked, it’s not possible, with FIFA’s advance in calendar dates, we can only talk internally about something that’s impossible. The best formula, the best calendar adjustment, is already there. There are no more dates, there’s nothing to talk about that doesn’t exist.”

“This will be a task. We approved the championship based on 11 dates. What will the task be? To find a formula so we can have a second final. Why did we decide this way? Because nothing changes in the championship. The only thing is there will be one more final. So everything defined here is maintained and will be done.”

Semi-automatic offside

“Yes, we already used it this year. There’s a new company providing this same product, they’ll do it for the CBF, we’re already in talks with them, maybe we can, besides the finals, also use it in the semifinals.”

Synthetic pitches

“I am a defender of good pitches. After this year, we’ll have pitches like never before. The two clubs that were promoted are installing the same grass used in the Club World Cup. We already had a very good level of pitches. Palmeiras is replacing its synthetic pitch with a highly modern one. That’s what we need: investment, technology, and good conditions so athletes can play good football.”

Changes in the 2026 Campeonato Paulista compared to 2025

Lists A and B:

According to Meu Timão, clubs can now register 35 players on List A of the Campeonato Paulista. Previously, this number was 30. The limit of seven foreign players per match was maintained in alignment with the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF). This list can be filled before the eighth and final round of the tournament’s initial phase.

Regarding List B, intended for each club’s youth categories – up to 21 years old, it can still be filled freely in terms of quantity throughout the competition. However, the required time a player must be under contract with the team has been reduced to six months. Until last year, for a player to be on this list, he had to be at the club for at least one year.

Tickets, revenue sharing, and penalty shootouts:

The quarterfinals and semifinals remain single-leg matches. In case of a draw, the decision goes directly to penalties, as does the tournament final – there is still discussion whether it will be one or two matches due to changes in the Brazilian football calendar made by the CBF.

Regarding match revenue, until 2025, it was divided equally between the home and away teams. Now, however, the host team will keep 65% of the total revenue, and the remaining 35% will go to the visiting club.

Organizational aspects

Starting with the 2026 Campeonato Paulista, it will no longer be mandatory for players’ shorts to have numbers. On match days, each club may have up to eight coaching staff members on the bench. Until 2025, this number was limited to six. Finally, the limit of players who can warm up simultaneously on the sidelines will be only six. Previously, all could do so.

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