The Campeonato Brasileiro Série C, commonly known as the Série C or the Brazilian Série C to distinguish it from the Italian
Serie C
The Serie C (), officially known as Serie C NOW for sponsorship purposes, is the third-highest division in the Italian football league system after the Serie B and Serie A. The Lega Italiana Calcio Professionistico (Lega Pro) is the governing ...
, is the third tier of the
Brazilian football league system.
Unlike the first and second divisions, the Série C is not played in a double round robin system, arguably because many participating teams lack the financial conditions to travel long distances. Thus, the tournament is organized in regional groups and the table prevents teams from distant states from playing each other in the initial rounds.
Beginning in 2009, the Série C was reduced from 64 teams to 20 and the new
Campeonato Brasileiro Série D
The Campeonato Brasileiro Série D (English: Brazilian Championship Serie D), commonly known as the Série D or the Brazilian Série D to distinguish it from the Italian Serie D, is the fourth division of the Brazilian football league system, and ...
is the qualifier for Brazilian league football. In its current format the first phase was then played in a single round, with 19 matches. The top eight teams qualify for a knock out stage and the four semi-finalists are
promoted to the
Campeonato Brasileiro Série B
The Campeonato Brasileiro Série B (commonly referred to as the Brasileirão Série B, the Série B or the Brazilian Série B to distinguish it from the Italian and the Ecuadorian Serie B), and currently officially called Brasileirão Série B ...
. The four lowest-placed teams are relegated to the
Campeonato Brasileiro Série D
The Campeonato Brasileiro Série D (English: Brazilian Championship Serie D), commonly known as the Série D or the Brazilian Série D to distinguish it from the Italian Serie D, is the fourth division of the Brazilian football league system, and ...
.
Format history
Until 2008, any professional team could apply, but only 64 teams would take part in the tournament. The teams that had been
relegated
Promotion and relegation is used by sports leagues as a process where teams can move up and down among divisions in a league system, based on their performance over a season. Leagues that use promotion and relegation systems are sometimes call ...
from the
Série B in the previous year were joined by teams qualified for each federation state. Qualification rules varied, some federations used the state tournaments as qualification tournaments, others organized exclusive qualification tournaments to the Série C.
From 2009 onwards, the qualifiers were played in four groups of five teams each. In 2011, the final round was played in two groups of four. From 2012, the competition was played in two groups of ten teams in the first phase, increasing the number of dates. This format was maintained until 2020, when the competition's Technical Council decided to make a change in the second phase, reintroducing two groups of four to determine the promoted teams and finalists, as in 2011. In 2022, in turn, the first phase was then played in a single round, with 19 matches instead of 18. The eight best teams qualify for the second phase, which is played in the same format as before, while the four lowest-placed teams are relegated.
2024 Série C teams
Champions
Official champions
The Campeonato Brasileiro has existed since 1971. However, there have been many years when no third division tournament took place. In most cases it was because the two elite divisions had too many clubs (in 1989, for instance, 96 teams contested the second division
"Brazil 2nd Level 1989 Divisão Especial"
Rssf.). The following table shows the winners and runners-up of the Série C tournaments played from 1981, according to the Brazilian Football Confederation
The Brazilian Football Confederation (, CBF) is the governing body of football in Brazil. It was founded on Monday, 8 June 1914, as , and renamed Confederação Brasileira de Desportos in 1916. The football confederation, as known today, sepa ...
:
Unofficial champions
The following season is the part corresponding to the third level of the Copa João Havelange
The 2000 Campeonato Brasileiro Série A (officially the Copa João Havelange) was the 44th edition of the Campeonato Brasileiro Série A, the top-level of professional football in Brazil. Due to legal complications, the championship was organized ...
, a competition organized by the Clube dos 13
Clube dos 13 (Club of the 13) was the organization responsible for representing the interest of the most powerful football (soccer), football clubs of Brazil, including members from several football state federations such as Federação Paulista d ...
, and is not officially recognized by the CBF:
Titles by team
Titles by state
Participations
Most appearances
Below is the list of clubs that have more appearances in the Campeonato Brasileiro Série C.
Clubs promoted from Série C
Clubs relegated from Série C
Topscorers
Winning managers
See also
* Campeonato Brasileiro Série A
The Campeonato Brasileiro Série A (; English: "Brazilian Championship A Series"), commonly referred to as the Brasileirão (; English: "Big Brazilian" or "Great Brazilian"), the Série A or the Brazilian Série A (to distinguish it from the I ...
, the main division of Brazilian football
* Campeonato Brasileiro Série B
The Campeonato Brasileiro Série B (commonly referred to as the Brasileirão Série B, the Série B or the Brazilian Série B to distinguish it from the Italian and the Ecuadorian Serie B), and currently officially called Brasileirão Série B ...
, the second division of Brazilian football
* Campeonato Brasileiro Série D
The Campeonato Brasileiro Série D (English: Brazilian Championship Serie D), commonly known as the Série D or the Brazilian Série D to distinguish it from the Italian Serie D, is the fourth division of the Brazilian football league system, and ...
, the fourth division of Brazilian football
References
External links
CBF
- Brazilian Football Confederation
{{DEFAULTSORT:Campeonato Brasileiro Serie C
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Brazil
Brazil, officially the Federative Republic of Brazil, is the largest country in South America. It is the world's List of countries and dependencies by area, fifth-largest country by area and the List of countries and dependencies by population ...
Professional sports leagues in Brazil