Corinthians, São Paulo, Palmeiras, Santos discover Copinha groups | OneFootball

The groups for the 2026 edition of the Copa São Paulo de Futebol Júnior have been set. On Tuesday night, the FPF (Paulista Football Federation) announced the 32 groups for the first phase of the Copinha, the country’s biggest youth competition, during an event held at the Mercado Livre Arena Pacaembu.

The most successful club in Copinha history, Corinthians is in Group 8, based in Jaú, in the interior of São Paulo (SP). Timão will face XV de Jaú (SP), Trindade (GO), and Luverdense (MT). Meanwhile, São Paulo, the current champion of the competition, will face Real Soccer (SP), Maruinense (SE), and Independente (AP) in Group 19, based in Sorocaba (SP).

Meanwhile, Palmeiras was drawn into Group 27, based in Barueri (SP), with the following opponents: Monte Roraima (RR), Batalhão (TO), and Remo (PA). Finally, Santos is in Group 16 and will face Grêmio São Carlense (SP), Real Brasília (DF), and União Cacoalense (RO), with matches in São Carlos (SP).

“We’ve reached the 56th edition. The Copinha is an event for which we must thank all our partners. To the CBF, to president Samir Xaud, for his presence, support, and partnership. I invite you to join us on the 25th to present the trophy to the Copinha champion. Thanks also to the mayors, clubs, athletes, managers, referees,” said Reinaldo Carneiro Bastos, president of the FPF, on stage at the event.

“It’s a great joy to be here today. Thank you for the invitation, president [Reinaldo Carneiro Bastos]. I, who come from Roraima, was a youth player and dreamed of playing in the Copinha. Every boy in Brazil carries this dream. The Copinha has this democratic spirit. Another hallmark of this tournament is revealing talents. How many have left these fields in São Paulo to shine in Brazilian football and then around the world? For the CBF, supporting a tournament with this history is a great honor,” said Samir Xaud, president of the CBF.

Dates and Competition Format

The 56th edition of the Copinha will be held from January 2 to 25, in São Paulo (SP), and will use the same ball as the 2026 Paulistão. The grand final is scheduled for the anniversary of the city of São Paulo, at Mercado Livre Arena Pacaembu. The 2026 competition will feature three new host cities and 23 debuting clubs.

As in recent years, 128 teams have been divided into 32 groups, with four teams in each – there will be more than 4,000 athletes in the youth tournament. The clubs face each other in a single round-robin, and the top two in each group advance to the knockout stage.

In the knockout stage, teams will also play single-elimination matches. In case of a draw in regular time, the decision will go to penalties.

Corinthians is the most successful club in the Copa São Paulo de Futebol Júnior, with 11 titles. São Paulo, Internacional, and Fluminense are next, with five titles each. Flamengo, which will not participate in this edition, has four trophies.

Check out the groups for Copinha 2026:

Group 1 – Host: Santa Fé do Sul

Group 2 – Host: Votuporanga

Group 3 – Host: Tanabi

Group 4 – Host: Bálsamo

Group 5 – Host: Araçatuba

Group 6 – Host: Presidente Prudente

Group 7 – Host: Assis

Group 8 – Host: Jaú

Group 9 – Host: São José do Rio Preto

Group 10 – Host: Ribeirão Preto

Group 11 – Host: Brodóski

Group 12 – Host: Cravinhos

Group 13 – Host: Franca

Group 14 – Host: Patrocínio Paulista

Group 15 – Host: Araraquara

Group 16 – Host: São Carlos

Group 17 – Host: Cosmópolis

Group 18 – Host: Tietê

Group 19 – Host: Sorocaba

Group 20 – Host: Paulínia

Group 21 – Host: Guaratinguetá

Group 22 – Host: Taubaté

Group 23 – Host: Mogi das Cruzes

Group 24 – Host: Itaquaquecetuba

Group 25 – Host: Santana de Parnaíba

Group 26 – Host: Embu das Artes

Group 27 – Host: Barueri

Group 28 – Host: Guarulhos

Group 29 – Host: Osasco

Group 30 – Host: São Paulo (Ibrachina Arena)

Group 31 – Host: São Paulo (Juventus)

Group 32 – Host: São Paulo (Nacional)

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