Wikipedia - Copa do Brasil

The Copa do Brasil (English: Brazil Cup) is a knockout football competition played by 92 teams, representing all 26 Brazilian states plus the Federal District. It is the Brazilian domestic cup and it is the Brazilian equivalent of the FA Cup, Taça de Portugal, Copa del Rey, Scottish Cup and Copa Argentina, even though it has much more prestige and it is considered almost as important as the Brazilian League. The Copa do Brasil is an opportunity for teams from smaller states to play against the big teams. The winner of the cup automatically qualifies for the following edition of the Copa Libertadores de América, the most prestigious continental football tournament contested by top clubs in South America organized by CONMEBOL.

Initially the Copa do Brasil was contested by 32 clubs. The field increased to 40 in 1996, increased to 69 by the year of 2000, and stabilized at 64 after 2001 which it remained at until 2012. Clubs from all 26 Brazilian states and the Federal District participate.

From 2001 to 2012, the Copa do Brasil was played in the first half of the year and in those seasons, due to busy scheduling, teams playing in the Copa Libertadores did not participate in the Copa do Brasil in the same year. Thus, the Copa do Brasil champion never defended their title in the next edition, since they would be qualified for the Copa Libertadores that year.

From 2013 to 2015, 87 teams participate in the cup and the teams that compete in the Copa Libertadores join the Copa do Brasil directly in the Round of 16. Also, the best 8 teams from the previous year's Campeonato Brasileiro Série A eliminated up to the third round qualify for Copa Sudamericana. In 2016, the competition was played by 86 clubs. From 2017 to 2020 the cup was contested by 91 teams but in 2021 the number of participants was increased to 92.

Starting in 2023, the tournament has been sponsored by Betano and is thus currently known as the Copa Betano do Brasil for sponsorship reasons.

Cruzeiro is the most successful club, having won the competition six times, followed by Grêmio with 5 titles, Palmeiras and Flamengo with 4, Corinthians with 3, and Atlético Mineiro with 2. Another 10 clubs have won one edition of the competition, resulting in a total of 16 champions. The state with the highest number of titles is São Paulo , with 10. Only two states have champions from more than one city: São Paulo (Jundiaí, Santo André, Santos and São Paulo) and Rio Grande do Sul (Caxias do Sul and Porto Alegre). Rio de Janeiro (Flamengo, Fluminense and Vasco da Gama) and São Paulo (Palmeiras, Corinthians and São Paulo) are the only cities with more than two champion clubs.

History

Winners
Copa do Brasil
Season Winners
1989 Grêmio
1990 Flamengo
1991 Criciúma
1992 Internacional
1993 Cruzeiro
1994 Grêmio (2)
1995 Corinthians
1996 Cruzeiro (2)
1997 Grêmio (3)
1998 Palmeiras
1999 Juventude
2000 Cruzeiro (3)
2001 Grêmio (4)
2002 Corinthians (2)
2003 Cruzeiro (4)
2004 Santo André
2005 Paulista
2006 Flamengo (2)
2007 Fluminense
2008 Sport Recife
2009 Corinthians (3)
2010 Santos
2011 Vasco da Gama
2012 Palmeiras (2)
2013 Flamengo (3)
2014 Atlético Mineiro
2015 Palmeiras (3)
2016 Grêmio (5)
2017 Cruzeiro (5)
2018 Cruzeiro (6)
2019 Athletico Paranaense
2020 Palmeiras (4)
2021 Atlético Mineiro(2)
2022 Flamengo (4)
2023 São Paulo

The Copa do Brasil was created in 1989 to appease the state soccer federations with fewer large and traditional clubs on the national stage, whose representatives would hardly have the opportunity to face big clubs during the year. This concern arose after a decrease in the number of participants in the 1987 Campeonato Brasileiro, when 13 of the biggest clubs in Brazil broke away to form the Copa União (Union Cup) in response to the CBF's financial difficulties.

The creation of this competition was designed to promote the state championships in the North, Northeast and Central West regions of Brazil, which were no longer represented in the Brazilian Championship. Copa do Brasil is of high importance for the medium and small clubs in these regions who now, at least theoretically, have a path to qualify for the Copa Libertadores.

The first edition of the Copa do Brasil took place in 1989. The first goal in the cup's history was scored by Alcindo Sartori in a 2–0 victory by Flamengo over Paysandu. Gremio were the first champion, qualifying to compete in the 1990 Copa Libertadores.

From 1989 to 1993, the champion of that year took home the trophy. In 1994 it was determined that the club that won the Copa do Brasil three times would have final possession of the cup. This happened in 2001 with Grêmio (after winning in 1994, 1997 and 2001).

Thus, for the 2002 Copa do Brasil a new trophy was contested, which remained until 2007 with no club earning its final possession.

By winning the 2003 Copa do Brasil and the 2003 Campeonato Brasileiro, Cruzeiro won both the domestic cup and domestic league in the same year, a feat that was matched only once in Brazilian football by Atlético Mineiro in 2021. Atlético has also won the 2021 Campeonato Mineiro, their state championship, as Cruzeiro did in 2003, completing the domestic treble (State league, national league and cup).

In 2008, a new trophy was instituted for the Copa do Brasil. In that same year Sport Recife became the first and so far only club from outside the Southeast Region or the South Region to win the competition. The North Region and Center-West regions have had no representative win the cup so far.

Grêmio's victory over Atletico Mineiro in the first leg of the 2016 Copa do Brasil final was the first time ever that a visiting club won the first leg of the Copa do Brasil final, in the 28 editions of the competition.

The number of participating teams has varied during the competition's history, based on the number of teams that qualify through their state federation's league tournament. From 1989 to 1994, 32 teams participated. That number was increased in 1995 to 36 teams, in 1996 to 40 teams, and in 1997 to 45 teams. 42 teams participated in 1998, 65 in 1999 and 69 in 2000.

From 2001 to 2012, the format was consolidated to 64 teams, without teams that participated in the Copa Libertadores that year due to conflict of dates.

In 2013, CBF presented a new cup trophy to replace the trophy in dispute since 2008. The champion gets permanent possession of the trophy and an identical trophy will be produced for the following year. Also in 2013, the tournament format was expanded again to 87 teams, which remained through 2014 and 2015. Under the new format, teams participating in Copa Libertadores again competed in the Copa do Brasil, entering the tournament directly into the Round of 16. In 2016 the number of participants was increased to 86, in 2017 to 91 and in 2021 to 92.

Copa do Brasil, also known as the Brazil Cup, is an annual soccer tournament held in Brazil. It is one of the most prestigious and highly anticipated competitions in Brazilian football. The tournament was first established in 1989 and has since become a significant event in the country's sporting calendar.

Copa do Brasil features teams from all divisions of Brazilian football, including the top-tier Serie A, Serie B, Serie C, and Serie D. This unique format allows for a diverse range of clubs to participate, creating an exciting and competitive atmosphere throughout the tournament.

The competition follows a knockout format, with teams facing off in a series of home-and-away matches. The tournament begins with a preliminary round, followed by several stages leading up to the grand finale. The winner of Copa do Brasil earns a coveted spot in the prestigious Copa Libertadores, South America's most prestigious club competition.

The Copa do Brasil showcases the immense talent and passion for soccer in Brazil. It brings together some of the country's most iconic and successful clubs, such as Flamengo, Palmeiras, Santos, and Corinthians, as well as lesser-known teams that often surprise with their performances.

The matches are played in various stadiums across Brazil, providing an opportunity for fans from different regions to witness the excitement firsthand. The tournament attracts a massive following, with passionate supporters filling the stadiums, creating an electric atmosphere that adds to the intensity of the matches.

Copa do Brasil has witnessed numerous memorable moments and upsets over the years, making it a captivating spectacle for both players and fans alike. The tournament has become a platform for emerging talents to showcase their skills and catch the attention of scouts from top clubs around the world.

Overall, Copa do Brasil is a celebration of Brazilian soccer, showcasing the country's rich footballing culture and its deep-rooted love for the beautiful game. It is a tournament that captivates the nation, uniting fans from all corners of Brazil in their shared passion for soccer.