Rodrigo Cintra, Helder Melillo and Julio Avellar at the 2026 Série D Technical CommitteePhoto credit: Rafael Ribeiro/CBF
Representatives from 96 clubs in the Brazilian Football League (Brasileirão Série D) participated in the tournament’s technical committee meeting held virtually on Thursday (5th) afternoon, which is the largest number of participating teams in the history of the competition. For this historic edition, CBF has increased participation quotas by 64%: from R$ 40 million to R$ 65.5 million.
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In a historic season, thanks to unprecedented national participation, the Championship will jump from 510 to 610 games, with each club guaranteed to play a minimum of 10 to 14 games, with finalists playing a maximum of 22 games. In this way, the Brazilian Football Federation fulfills the promise made during the announcement of the new schedule of professional men’s football, whose main guidelines include ensuring more games at the bottom of the Brazilian football pyramid.
Speech by CBF Executive Director Helder Melillo at the 2026 D-League Technical CommitteePhoto credit: Rafael Ribeiro/CBF
The meeting at the CBF headquarters in Rio de Janeiro was chaired by the organization’s executive director Helder Melillo and competition director Julio Avellar, and was also attended by directors and presidents of each federation.
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CBF Executive Director Helder Melillo explained: “This year we are ushering in a historic edition with 96 clubs participating, which represents a very important step in strengthening the foundation of the Brazilian football pyramid. Our goal is to provide more opportunities for teams across the country, ensuring more games, greater visibility, more attractive club participation quotas and better conditions for participation.”
Netto Góes, Vice President of the Ceará State Football Federation, at the 2026 Serie D Technical CommitteePhoto credit: Rafael Ribeiro/CBF
“The Série D Technical Committee reaffirms the CBF’s commitment to strengthening and valuing football across the country. The competition now has 96 clubs participating, further broadening the national representation and creating opportunities for teams from all regions,” stressed Julio Avilar.
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“Furthermore, with six clubs qualifying for Serie C in 2027, the expansion of qualifications makes the competition even more competitive and attractive. All this is the result of constant dialogue with clubs and efforts to make Serie C even more organized, strong and representative of Brazilian football,” Avlar added.
Competition format
Série D will be played from April 5th to September 13th, with a total of 24 games (22 at weekends and 2 midweeks). There are 16 groups in the first stage, each group has 6 teams, and the top four advance to the second stage. There will be a total of ten rounds, with each team playing five home games and five away games.
In each knockout stage and playoffs, matches will be played over two legs (home and away). The four teams eliminated in the quarter-finals will have the opportunity to advance to the 2027 C-League again in the play-offs, which was established by CBF to ensure that the competition is more competitive and exciting.
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The four semi-finalists and the play-off winner will ensure promotion to the 2027 Third Division. The winner will directly qualify for the third stage of the 2027 Brazilian Cup.
CBF holds 2026 D-League Technical CommitteePhoto credit: Rafael Ribeiro/CBF
Check the prize quota:
First stage: 500,000 reais (96 clubs) – (New clubs are also entitled to an additional 8,000 reais for the purchase of a defibrillator, a necessary item for the competition)
Second stage: R$ 100,000 (64 clubs)
The third stage: R$ 150,000 (32 clubs)
The fourth stage (top 16): R$ 180,000 (16 clubs)
Stage 5 (Quarterfinals): R$ 180,000 (8 clubs)
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Playoffs: R$ 180,000 (4 clubs)
Stage six (semi-finals): R$ 180,000 (4 clubs)
Stage Seven (Final): R$ 300,000 (2 clubs)
Speech by Rodrigo Cintra, Chairman of the CBF Referees Committee, at the Technical Committee of the 2026 Serie D LeaguePhoto credit: Rafael Ribeiro/CBF
Details for this release
As of August 7, clubs can register up to 50 players, of which up to eight players can be replaced before September 25.
A player can only register with other Serie D clubs from the second stage after the competition starts, provided that he plays for the club eliminated in the first stage. Athletes who have played for one club in Serie A can only play for another club in Serie A. Participation is considered as the act of an athlete entering the field to participate in the competition at the beginning or during the competition.
Sergipe Football Association President Milton Dantas at the 2026 Serie D Technical CommitteePhoto credit: Rafael Ribeiro/CBF
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The CBF will bear the logistical costs (transport, accommodation and meals) for the 32 members, including technical staff for athletes and visiting clubs, referees and anti-doping testing.
VAR will be used starting from the third stage of the Serie D League.
Mauro Carmélio, President of the Ceará Football Federation, at the 2026 Serie D Technical CommitteePhoto credit: Rafael Ribeiro/CBF
This article was translated into English by artificial intelligence. You can read the original version at 🇧🇷.
