Brazil - Copa do Brasil

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The Copa do Brasil is a knockout tournament played by all teams in the regional or professional football system in Brazil. The competition hosts 91 Brazilian clubs and offers entry to the following year’s Copa Libertadores, along with seven berths to play in the ongoing Copa Sudamericana.

This competition, which is the country’s premier cup tournament, was founded in 1989. At first, only 32 clubs could compete each season but this number has increased over the years, reaching 40 in 1996; 69 in 2000; 86 in 2013; and 91 in 2017. The Copa Do Brasil typically kicks off in February and wraps up in the final four months of that same calendar year.

Teams play seven rounds in order to reach the final. The first two of those include regional teams and are played as a one-match tie. Two-legged ties are implemented from the third round until the end of the competition, with the aggregate score being the only tiebreaker.

A total of four rounds precede the round of 16. Eleven clubs are given direct entry into the last 16 and they are the seven Brazilian teams in the Copa Libertadores, the first-placed clubs in the Série A and Série B from the previous year (or the winner of the Copa Libertadores and/or Copa Sudamericana, if it is a Brazilian team), and the Copa do Nordeste and Copa Verde champions. The remaining 80 sides enter the competition in the first round. The five remaining teams after the first four rounds join the pre-selected 11 clubs in the round of 16.

Being the premier knockout cup competition in a country where the beautiful game is more than just a game, the Copa do Brasil enjoys immense popularity. One key reason for this is the Copa Libertadores ticket awarded to the champion. Many iconic names have also graced this stage, including the likes of Romario, Ronaldo, and Neymar. As a result, TV broadcasts, live streaming options, and on-demand services are in abundance for this tournament.