CBF brings changes to next Copa do Brasil, check out the details | OneFootball

In addition to changes in the state and regional calendars of Brazilian football, the CBF has also made changes to the Copa do Brasil. Among the main novelties, the entity has instituted a single-match final, increased the number of teams, and modified the competition dates.

Following the alteration of the final dates already applied this season, the Copa do Brasil will now end the national calendar, with the decision happening after the end of the Brasileirão. Now in a single match, the final will be played on December 6, while the opening of the competition is scheduled for February 18.

Increased number of teams

The Copa do Brasil will see a significant increase, going from 92 to 126 teams and from seven to nine stages.

All teams from the Brazilian Championship's Serie A will be present in the competition. This qualification model differs from the last editions, which prioritized the state championships even before the Brasileirão.

Even so, the spots via state championships continue to be the majority: 102 of the 126 teams will come from these competitions, with spots distributed according to the National Ranking of Federations of 2026. In addition, the champions of the Copa do Nordeste, Copa Verde, Serie C, and Serie D will also participate in the tournament.

Model of team entry in the next Copa do Brasil. (Photo: Reproduction / CBF)

The first four stages will be played in single matches, taking into account the Federation Ranking to define the confrontations of the first and second stages. In the third stage, the champions of the Copa do Nordeste, Copa Verde, Serie C, and Serie D enter.

This total of 106 teams will face each other until there are 12 teams left, which will join the 20 from Serie A from the fifth stage. From then on, the round of 16, quarterfinals, and semifinals will be played in home and away matches.

Single-match final

After all editions with finals in home and away matches, the CBF will promote the decision in a single match for the 2026 edition. The entity avoided giving new details of the decisive match, but anticipated that the stadiums will be previously defined and will always have a large crowd capacity.

"More details on how we will carry out this single final will be released soon. The aim of this single final is that it is held in stadiums that can accommodate a large crowd, that can receive the supporters from the cities, that have a large hotel network, road or air access. All this will be worked on," said Julio Avellar, director of competitions at the CBF.

Detailed 2026 calendar, highlighting the Copa do Brasil final on December 6. (Photo: Reproduction / CBF)

Copa do Brasil Dates

As the competition will occupy the entire extent of the Brazilian football calendar, the Copa do Brasil will also be impacted by the stoppage for the 2026 World Cup. With a start scheduled for February 18 and end on December 6, the nine stages will be distributed throughout all the months of the year.

It is likely that the first stages, in a single match, will be played before the start of Serie C and Serie D, scheduled for April 5.

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