The Brazilian football league system is a series of interconnected leagues for football clubs in Brazil. A player (wearing the red kit) has penetrated the defence (in the white kit) and is taking a shot at goal. ...

Structure

There are two simultaneous and independent pyramids in the Brazilian football, the national pyramid, and the state pyramid.

While the national competitions are organized by the CBF, the state championships are organized by the respective football federations of each state (for example, the Campeonato Pernambucano is organized by the Pernambuco Football Federation). The Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) or Confederação Brasileira de Futebol in Portuguese is the governing body of football in Brazil, and was founded on August 20, 1914 as Confederação Brasileira de Desportos (CBD), meaning Brazilian Sports Confederation. ... Campeonato Pernambucano (or Pernambuco Football Championship, in English) is the state championship of Pernambuco state, Brazil, and is organized by the Pernambuco Football Federation. ... Federação Pernambucana de Futebol (English: Pernambuco Football Federation), once named Liga Esportiva Pernambucana (English: Pernambucan Sport League), organizes and administrates the Campeonato Pernambucano (English: Pernambucan Football Championship). ...

The national pyramid competitions starts in April and ends in December. The state pyramid usually starts in January, and ends in April.

Most states have a secondary competition for the smaller clubs not involved in national competitions which takes place during the rest of the year. Smaller states, whose clubs do not take part in national competitions have longer competitions.

National championships

In the national pyramid, there are three leagues, the Série A, Série B and Série C. The Série A and Série B currently consist of 20 teams, while the Série C is disputed by 64 teams. Each year, the four worst placed clubs in the Série A are relegated to the Série B, the four top placed clubs in the Série B are promoted to Série A, the four worst clubs in the Série B are relegated to the Série C, and the four top placed clubs in the Série C are promoted to Série B. For other sports leagues which may be referred to by this name, see List of professional sports leagues. ... The Série B is the intermediate division of Brazilian football. ... The Série C of the Campeonato Brasileiro is the third and lowest division of Brazilian football. ...

The clubs disputing the Série C are the best placed state championship clubs of the same season which are not disputing the Série A and the Série B. Clubs that are successful in their state leagues can rise higher in the pyramid, being promoted to the Série C, and then to the Série B and eventually the Série A. Some state federations organize special competitions with the purpose of qualifying teams to the Série C. So, it is possible for a minor state championship club to rise to the Série A, and become champions of the competition.

State championships

In the state pyramid, which consists of several independent state championships, the participating clubs, which also include Série A and Série B clubs, are limited to their own states (however, there are some minor exceptions, like in the Campeonato Brasiliense, where Unaí from Minas Gerais and Luziânia from Goiás also compete, due to their proximity to Brasília city)^[1]. The leagues are usually divided in two, three or four levels. The number of clubs per level, as well as the number of levels, are different in each state. For example, in São Paulo there are 20 clubs in the first level, but in Rio de Janeiro there are 12, and in Rondônia there are just 8 clubs. Also, the number of promoted and relegated clubs are different from one state to the other. The Brazilian Football State Championships are competitions carried out in every state of Brazil. ... The Campeonato Brasiliense, also known as Campeonato Metropolitano de Brasília or Campeonato Candango, is the football league of the Distrito Federal, Brazil. ... Capital (and largest city) Belo Horizonte Demonym Mineiro Government  -  Governor Aécio Neves  -  Vice Governor Antônio Augusto Junho Anastasia Area  -  Total 588,528. ... Flag of Goiás See other Brazilian States Capital Goiânia Largest City Goiânia Area 341 289 km² Population   - Total   - Density 4 848 725 14. ... Nickname: Location of Brasília Coordinates: , Region State Founded 21 April 1960 Government  - Governor Jose Roberto Arruda Area  - City 5,802 km²  (2,240. ... Flag of São Paulo See other Brazilian States Capital São Paulo Largest City São Paulo City Area 248,176. ... Flag of Rio de Janeiro See other Brazilian States Capital Rio de Janeiro Largest City Rio de Janeiro Area 43,696. ... Flag of Rondônia See other Brazilian States Capital Porto Velho Largest City Porto Velho Area 238,512. ...

Copa do Brasil

The Copa do Brasil is disputed between the winners and best placed clubs of the previous season state championships, and by the best placed clubs in the CBF ranking. It is disputed between the months of February and June (or July, in the years when the FIFA World Cup is being disputed). The number of clubs per state range from one to three, excluding the clubs qualified by the CBF ranking. The Copa do Brasil (or Brazil Cup) is a knockout competition played by 64 football teams, representing all 26 Brazilian states plus the Federal District. ... The Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) or Confederação Brasileira de Futebol in Portuguese is the governing body of football in Brazil, and was founded on August 20, 1914 as Confederação Brasileira de Desportos (CBD), meaning Brazilian Sports Confederation. ... For the club competition, see FIFA Club World Cup. ...

Current system

¹The state championships are not officially hierarchically behind the Série C. They are not linked at all to the Campeonato Brasileiro (Brazilian Championship). As a matter of fact, the winners ot the state championships are not promoted to the Campeonato Brasileiro. They act only on a local level, and have no influence whatsoever upon the season of the Campeonato Brasileiro. For other sports leagues which may be referred to by this name, see List of professional sports leagues. ... The Série B is the intermediate division of Brazilian football. ... The Série C of the Campeonato Brasileiro is the third and lowest division of Brazilian football. ... The Brazilian Football State Championships are competitions carried out in every state of Brazil. ... The Campeonato Acreano is the football league of the state of Acre, Brazil. ... The Campeonato Alagoano is the football league of the state of Alagoas, Brazil. ... The Campeonato Amapaense is the football league of the state of Amapá, Brazil. ... The Campeonato Amazonense is the football league of the state of Amazonas, Brazil. ... The Campeonato Baiano is the football league of the state of Bahia, Brazil. ... The Campeonato Cearense is the football league of the state of Ceará, Brazil. ... The Campeonato Brasiliense, also known as Campeonato Metropolitano de Brasília or Campeonato Candango, is the football league of the Distrito Federal, Brazil. ... The Campeonato Capixaba is the football league of the state of Espirito Santo, Brazil. ... The Campeonato Goiano is the football league of the state of Goiás, Brazil. ... The Campeonato Maranhense is the football league of the state of Maranhão, Brazil. ... The Campeonato Matogrossense is the football league of the state of Mato Grosso, Brazil. ... The Campeonato Sul-Matogrossense is the football league of the state of Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil. ... FMF official logo) Campeonato Mineiro is the league played in the Brazilian southeastern State of Minas Gerais and is held by the Minas Gerais Soccer Federation FMF (Federação Mineira de Futebol). ... Campeonato Paraense is the league played in the Brazilian northern State of Pará. // Clubs First Division Abaeté Futebol Clube Águia de Marabá Futebol Clube Clube Municipal Ananindeua Sport Clube Belém Bragantino Clube do Pará Castanhal Esporte Clube Paysandu Esporte Clube Pedreira Esporte Clube Clube do Remo São Raimundo... The Campeonato Paraibano is the football league of the state of Paraíba, Brazil. ... Campeonato Paranaense is the football league of the state of Paraná, Brazil. ... Campeonato Pernambucano (or Pernambuco Football Championship, in English) is the state championship of Pernambuco state, Brazil, and is organized by the Pernambuco Football Federation. ... The Campeonato Piauiense is the football league of the state of Piauí , Brazil. ... The Campeonato Carioca, also known as Campeonato Estadual do Rio de Janeiro, is the football league of the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and is one of the most prestigious football national tournaments. ... The Campeonato Potiguar is the football league of the state of Rio Grande do Norte , Brazil. ... The Campeonato Gaúcho is the football league of the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. ... The Campeonato Rondoniense is the football league of the state of Rondônia, Brazil. ... The Campeonato Roraimense is the football league of the state of Roraima, Brazil. ... Campeonato Catarinense is the Brazilian State of Santa Catarina football league. ... The Campeonato Paulista is the most prestigious football tournament within the state of São Paulo. ... The Campeonato Sergipano is the football league of the state of Sergipe, Brazil. ... The Campeonato Tocantinense is the football league of the state of Tocantins, Brazil. ... The Brazilian Football State Championships are competitions carried out in every state of Brazil. ... The Campeonato Baiano lower levels are the football tournaments for the Bahia state clubs that dont play in the Campeonato Baiano First Division. ... The Campeonato Mineiro lower levels are the football tournaments for the Minas Gerais clubs that dont play in the Campeonato Mineiro First Division. ... The Campeonato Pernambucano lower levels are the football tournaments for the Pernambucano state clubs that dont play in the Campeonato Pernambucano First Division. ... The Campeonato Carioca lower levels are the football tournaments for the Rio de Janeiro clubs that dont play in the Campeonato Carioca First Division. ... The Campeonato Gaúcho lower levels are the football tournaments for the Rio Grande do Sul clubs that dont play in the Campeonato Gaúcho First Division. ... Campeonato Paulista Série A2 is the second level of the São Paulo state professional football championship, one of the Brazilian state championships. ...

Example of a state league pyramid

The 2006 Campeonato Paulista table below is an example of a state league pyramid. It is divided in four levels. The first three levels are disputed by 20 teams each, while the fourth level is disputed by 44 clubs. The competitions are organized by the Paulista Football Federation. The Campeonato Paulista is the most prestigious football tournament within the state of São Paulo. ... FPF Official Logo Federação Paulista de Futebol (FPF) was founded on April 22, 1941 and manages all the official soccer tournaments within the state of São Paulo including the Campeonato Paulista and the Copa FPF. Comercial-SP Corinthians Espanha (Jabaquara) Juventus Palestra Itália (Currently Palmeiras) Portuguesa Portuguesa...

The Campeonato Paulista is the most prestigious football tournament within the state of São Paulo. ... Campeonato Paulista Série A2 is the second level of the São Paulo state professional football championship, one of the Brazilian state championships. ...

References

is the 219th day of the year (220th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ...

External links

• Brazilian football competitions at RSSSF