Rodrigo Cintra, Helder Melillo, and Julio Avellar at the Technical Council of the 2026 Série DCredits: Rafael Ribeiro / CBF
Representatives from the 96 clubs of the Brasileirão Série D, the largest number of teams in the history of the competition, participated on the afternoon of Thursday (5th) in the tournament’s Technical Council, held virtually. For this historic edition, the CBF increased the participation quotas by 64%: from R$ 40 million to R$ 65.5 million.
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In a historic season, with unprecedented national inclusion, the championship will jump from 510 to 610 matches and guarantee a minimum of ten to fourteen games per club and a maximum of 22 matches for the finalists. In this way, the CBF fulfills the commitment made in the announcement of the new calendar for professional men’s football, whose main guidelines included ensuring more games for the base of the Brazilian football pyramid.
CBF Executive Director, Helder Melillo, at the Technical Council of the 2026 Série DCredits: Rafael Ribeiro/CBF
At the CBF headquarters in Rio de Janeiro, the meeting was led by the organization’s executive director, Helder Melillo, and the Director of Competitions, Julio Avellar, and included the presence of directors and presidents of federations.
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“This year we will have a historic edition with 96 clubs, which represents a very important step in strengthening the base of the Brazilian football pyramid. Our goal is to expand opportunities for teams from all regions of the country, ensuring more games, greater visibility, even more attractive participation quotas for clubs, and better participation conditions,” explained CBF Executive Director Helder Melillo.
Vice President of the Ceará Football Federation, Netto Góes, at the Technical Council of the 2026 Série DCredits: Rafael Ribeiro/CBF
“The Série D Technical Council reaffirmed the CBF’s commitment to strengthening and valuing football throughout the country. The competition now features 96 clubs, further expanding national representation and creating opportunities for teams from all regions,” highlighted Julio Avellar.
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“In addition, the expansion of access, with six clubs securing a spot in the 2027 Série C, makes the competition even more competitive and attractive. All of this is the result of constant dialogue with the clubs and an effort to make Série D increasingly organized, strong, and representative of Brazilian football,” Avellar added.
Competition Format
Série D will be played from April 5 to September 13, over 24 match dates (22 on weekends and two midweek). In the first phase, there will be 16 groups, each with six teams, from which the top four advance to the second phase. There will be ten rounds, and each team will play five home games and five away games.
In each knockout phase and in the playoffs, the matches will be played over two legs (home and away). The four clubs eliminated in the quarterfinals will have another chance to move up to the 2027 Série C in the playoffs, created by the CBF to ensure more competitiveness and excitement in the tournament.
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The four semifinalists, as well as the playoff winners, secure promotion to the 2027 Série C. The champion will qualify directly for the third phase of the 2027 Copa do Brasil.
CBF held the Technical Council of the 2026 Série DCredits: Rafael Ribeiro/CBF
Check out the prize quotas:
1st Phase: R$ 500,000 (96 clubs) – (New clubs will also be entitled to an additional R$ 8,000 for the purchase of defibrillators, a mandatory item for holding a match)
2nd Phase: R$ 100,000 (64 clubs)
3rd Phase: R$ 150,000 (32 clubs)
4th Phase (Round of 16): R$ 180,000 (16 clubs)
5th Phase (Quarterfinals): R$ 180,000 (8 clubs)
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Playoffs: R$ 180,000 (4 clubs)
6th Phase (Semifinals): R$ 180,000 (4 clubs)
7th Phase (Final): R$ 300,000 (2 clubs)
President of the CBF Refereeing Commission, Rodrigo Cintra, at the Technical Council of the 2026 Série DCredits: Rafael Ribeiro / CBF
Details of this edition
Until August 7, clubs may register a maximum of 50 athletes, of whom up to eight may be replaced until September 25.
An athlete may be registered by another Série D club, after the start of the competition, only from the second phase onward and provided that he played for a club eliminated in the first phase. An athlete who has played for one club in Série D may only play for one more club in Série D. Participation is considered as the act of the athlete entering the field to play in the match, either at the start or during the game.
President of the Sergipe Football Federation, Milton Dantas, at the Technical Council of the 2026 Série DCredits: Rafael Ribeiro/CBF
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The CBF will cover logistics expenses (transportation, accommodation, and meals) for 32 members, including athletes and technical staff of visiting clubs, refereeing, and anti-doping tests.
VAR will be used from the third phase of Série D onward.
President of the Ceará Football Federation, Mauro Carmélio, at the Technical Council of the 2026 Série DCredits: Rafael Ribeiro/CBF
This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.
