Let the games begin

The Brazilian season just started this weekend and people doesn’t understand very well what’s is going on. Brazil does his own calendar in a very unusual way, filled with strange competition in the eyes of those used to the European season.

At this issue, I’ll try to explain how does it work around here and show you our calendar for the 2007 season.

States Championship – from Jan 17th until May 6th

Brazil is divide in 26 states and 1 federal district (our D.C.) and each one has his own state championship. The rules are different in each one. Some play like regular season, others like a cup and the most choose the “season-playoffs” style. Those championships are very traditional. While the national championship started in 1971, there were states competitions since the beginning of the last century. Therefore, even though they are loosing importance every year, they remain as the main stage to the regional derbies. It’s played basic on weekends but with a few games during weeks, especially before the other competitions start.

Ta̤a Libertadores da America Рfrom Jan 31st until June 20th

This is our champion league, played by the best teams from each country on South America and Mexico. The Libertadores is played every Wednesday from February until June (the group stage starts on Feb 14th). The rules are also similar to the Champions League. After a pre-group stage teams are divided in groups of 4 where the 2 firsts qualify for the round of 16. The winner will be playing the FIFA Club’s World Cup at Tokyo in December.

 Brazilian Cup – from Feb 14th until June 6th

This is a national Cup like any Cup played in Europe. There are only two differences. First, whoever wins it qualifies for the Libertadores, so the Cup gains some importance. People normally say that this is the easiest way get into the continental competition. Second, the 64 teams that will play each year competition are chosen by the following criteria:

- 10 best teams at the national ranking by CBF

- 54 teams representing their state according to their standings at the statual championship.

This competition is played on Wednesdays and Thursdays, along with the Libertadores. Therefore, for the past 5 years no team could play both competitions. However, this year they revoked this rule once it was pointed like a punishment for those that qualified for the continental competition as well.

South-American Cup – from August 15th until December 5th

If Libertadores is the South American version for the UEFA’s Champions League, this is our version for the UEFA’s Cup. The only difference is that at first stage, the team plays only against opponents on his own country, in other to reduce trips costs. The competitions are played during weeks just like the Libertadores. The Commebol tried for many years to create a second continental competition to be played on the second semester but never with success. There was the Commebol Cup, the Libertadores Champions Cup (with every team that ever won the Libertadores), the Mercosul Cup and some others. The South-American Cup was created 4 years ago for the same reason. It didn’t gain much importance yet.

National Championship – from July 4th until December 2nd

Since the year 2002 this championship is been played just like any championship in Europe. Before that, there was a season followed by playoffs because according to the common knowledge, the Brazilians needed to watch finals. This myth was brought down while the competition audience grows every year. The first 4 teams qualify for the Libertadores Cup and the 7 next qualifies for the South-American Cup. The last 4 goes to Serie B while the best 4 there go up to Serie A.

This isn’t a very old championship. It’s been played since only 1971, what explains the importance given to the state competitions, played since the beginning of the 1900s. Flamengo, the most popular team in Brazil is the biggest winner with 5 titles, follows by its biggest rival Vasco da Gama, Palmeiras and São Paulo with 4.

Here follows the 20 teams that will be playing the national championship this year(ordered by its position in 2006)

1º São Paulo
2º Internacional
3º Gremio
4º Santos
5º Paraná
6º Vasco da Gama
7º Figueirense
8º Goiás
9º Corinthians
10º Cruzeiro
11º Flamengo
12º Botafogo
13º Atlético PR
14º Juventude
15º Fluminense
16º Palmeiras
17º Atlético MG
18º Sport Recife
19º Náutico 
20º América RN

Category: CBF

Tags: Brasileirão, Brazil, Brazilian Season, CBF, Serie A

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