2026 Copa Sul-Sudeste

2026 Copa Sul-Sudeste
Tournament details
CountryBrazil
Dates24 March – 7 June
Teams12
Final positions
ChampionsAvaí (1st title)
Runners-upChapecoense
2027 Copa do BrasilAvaí
Tournament statistics
Matches played42
Goals scored113 (2.69 per match)

The 2026 Copa Sul-Sudeste was the innaugural edition of the football competition held in the Brazil. The tournament began on 24 March and ended on 7 June 2026.[1]

Format

In the group stage, the 12 teams were drawn into two groups of six. Each team played each of the six clubs from the other group once. The top two teams advanced to the semifinals, which were played over two legs. Those who qualify advanced to the final, which also was played in two matches.[2]

Qualified teams

Association Team[3] Qualification method
Minas Gerais Minas Gerais[a]
2 berths		América Mineiro2025 Campeonato Mineiro best team with that did not qualify for CONMEBOL competitions
TombenseSecond best team with that did not qualify for CONMEBOL competitions
Paraná (state) Paraná[b]
2 berths		Operário Ferroviário2025 Campeonato Paranaense champions[4]
Cianorte2025 Taça FPF champions[4]
Rio de Janeiro (state) Rio de Janeiro
2 berths		Volta Redonda2025 Campeonato Carioca best team with that did not qualify for CONMEBOL competitions
Sampaio CorrêaSecond best team with that did not qualify for CONMEBOL competitions
Rio Grande do Sul Rio Grande do Sul
2 berths		Juventude2025 Campeonato Gaúcho second best team with that did not qualify for CONMEBOL competitions
Caxias[c]Third best team with that did not qualify for CONMEBOL competitions
Santa Catarina (state) Santa Catarina[b]
2 berths		Avaí2025 Campeonato Catarinense champions
Chapecoense2025 Campeonato Catarinense runners-up
São Paulo (state) São Paulo
2 berths		São Bernardo2025 Campeonato Paulista best team with that did not qualify for CONMEBOL competitions
NovorizontinoSecond best team with that did not qualify for CONMEBOL competitions
Notes
  1. ↑ Since the Taça Minas Gerais is no longer disputed, the only possible qualification for Minas Gerais teams is via 2025 Campeonato Mineiro. For the other states where state cups are being played in 2025, the federations have not yet officially announced the distribution of the berths, since the spot was initially expected for the 2026 Copa do Brasil dispute.
  2. 1 2 Paraná and Santa Catarina have no teams in the 2025 Campeonato Brasileiro Série A or competing in the final stages of the 2025 Copa do Brasil, turning it impossible for them clubs to qualify for international tournaments for 2026 season. The Paraná federation was the first to officially announce the distribution of spots.[4]
  3. ↑ Internacional withdrew from the competition on 18 February,[5] and Caxias was confirmed in their spot the following day.[6]

Group stage

In the group stage, the 12 teams were drawn into two groups of six teams each. Each team in Group A played each team in Group B once. The top two teams of each group advanced to the semi-finals of the knockout stages. The teams were ranked according to points (3 points for a win, 1 point for a draw, and 0 points for a loss). If tied on points, the following criteria would be used to determine the ranking: 1. Wins; 2. Goal difference; 3. Goals scored; 4. Fewest red cards; 5. Fewest yellow cards; 6. Draw in the headquarters of the Brazilian Football Confederation (Regulations Article 13).[7]

Group A

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Santa Catarina (state) Chapecoense 6 4 1 1 8 5 +3 13 Advance to semi-finals
2 São Paulo (state) Novorizontino 6 3 2 1 8 5 +3 11
3 Rio Grande do Sul Caxias 6 3 2 1 6 3 +3 11
4 Paraná (state) Cianorte 6 2 2 2 9 10 −1 8
5 Minas Gerais Tombense 6 1 2 3 11 13 −2 5
6 Rio de Janeiro (state) Sampaio Corrêa 6 1 2 3 7 9 −2 5
Source: CBF

Group B

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Santa Catarina (state) Avaí 6 3 1 2 10 8 +2 10 Advance to semi-finals
2 Rio de Janeiro (state) Volta Redonda 6 3 1 2 9 8 +1 10
3 Paraná (state) Operário Ferroviário 6 2 3 1 5 4 +1 9
4 Minas Gerais América Mineiro 6 2 2 2 11 11 0 8
5 Rio Grande do Sul Juventude 6 1 1 4 4 9 −5 4
6 São Paulo (state) São Bernardo 6 0 3 3 6 9 −3 3
Source: CBF

Final stages

In the final stages, the teams played a single-elimination tournament with the following rules:[7]

  • Semi-finals and Finals were played on a home-and-away two-legged basis, with the higher-seeded team hosting the second leg.
    • If tied on aggregate, a penalty shoot-out would be used to determine the winners (Regulations Article 18).
  • Extra time would not be played and away goals rule would not be used in final stages.

In the Finals, the finalists were seeded according to their performance in the tournament. The teams were ranked according to overall points. If tied on overall points, the following criteria would be used to determine the ranking: 1. Overall wins; 2. Overall goal difference; 3. Overall goals scored; 4. Fewest red cards in the tournament; 5. Fewest yellow cards in the tournament; 6. Draw in the headquarters of the Brazilian Football Confederation (Regulations Article 16).[7]

Bracket

Semi-finals Finals
          
Rio de Janeiro (state) Volta Redonda 2 0 2
Santa Catarina (state) Avaí 2 3 5
Santa Catarina (state) Avaí (p) 3 0 3 (5)
Santa Catarina (state) Chapecoense 0 3 3 (4)
São Paulo (state) Novorizontino 0 2 2
Santa Catarina (state) Chapecoense 2 2 4

Semi-finals

Team 1 Agg.Tooltip Aggregate score Team 2 1st leg 2nd leg
Novorizontino São Paulo (state) 2–4 Santa Catarina (state) Chapecoense 0–2 2–2
Volta Redonda Rio de Janeiro (state) 2–5 Santa Catarina (state) Avaí 2–2 0–3

Group C

Novorizontino São Paulo (state)0–2Santa Catarina (state) Chapecoense
Report Neto Pessoa 45'
Jean Carlos 73'
Referee: José Mendonça da Silva Júnior (Paraná)
Chapecoense Santa Catarina (state)2–2São Paulo (state) Novorizontino
Neto Pessoa 40'
Rafael Carvalheira 55'		 Report Diego Galo 38'
Antony 69'
Referee: Roger Goulart (Rio Grande do Sul)

Group D

Volta Redonda Rio de Janeiro (state)2–2Santa Catarina (state) Avaí
Pedro Costa 16'
Alan 53'		 Report Wesley Gasolina 27'
Daniel Penha 90'
Referee: Lucas Guimarães Rechatiko Horn (Rio Grande do Sul)
Avaí Santa Catarina (state)3–0Rio de Janeiro (state) Volta Redonda
Wallison 8'
Thayllon 55'
Daniel Penha 72'		 Report
Referee: Kleber Ariel Gonçalves Silva (Paraná)

Finals

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Host
1 Santa Catarina (state) Chapecoense 8 5 2 1 12 7 +5 17 2nd leg
2 Santa Catarina (state) Avaí 8 4 2 2 15 10 +5 14 1st leg
Source: CBF
Team 1 Agg.Tooltip Aggregate score Team 2 1st leg 2nd leg
Avaí Santa Catarina (state) 3–3 (5–4 p) Santa Catarina (state) Chapecoense 3–0 0–3

Group E

Avaí Santa Catarina (state)3–0Santa Catarina (state) Chapecoense
Jean Lucas 5', 36'
Wallison 45+2'		 Report
Referee: João Vitor Gobi (São Paulo)


References

  1. ↑ "CBF oficializa datas do calendário do Futebol do Brasil profissional masculino de 2026" (in Portuguese). CBF. 4 October 2025.
  2. ↑ "Copa Sul-Sudeste: entenda o formato da competição que vai estrear em 2026". GloboEsporte (in Portuguese). 1 October 2025.
  3. ↑ "Regionais 2026: veja classificados para as Copas do Nordeste, Sul-Sudeste, Norte e Centro-Oeste" [2026 regional cups: check out the qualified teams to the Copa do Nordeste, Sul-Sudeste, Norte and Centro-Oeste] (in Brazilian Portuguese). ge. 10 December 2025. Retrieved 28 December 2025.
  4. 1 2 3 "Copa Sul-Sudeste: quais times ficam com as duas vagas do Paraná na competição". GloboEsporte (in Portuguese). 1 October 2025.
  5. ↑ "Inter decide não participar da Copa Sul-Sudeste; veja os motivos" [Inter opt not to play in the Copa Sul-Sudeste; check out the reasons] (in Brazilian Portuguese). ge. 18 February 2026. Retrieved 24 February 2026.
  6. ↑ "Caxias substituirá o Inter na Copa Sul-Sudeste; veja clubes participantes" [Caxias will replace Inter in the Copa Sul-Sudeste; check out participant clubs] (in Brazilian Portuguese). ge. 19 February 2026. Retrieved 24 February 2026.
  7. 1 2 3 "Regulamento Específico da Competição - Copa Sul-Sudeste 2026" (PDF) (in Portuguese). CBF. 26 February 2026.
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