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| Brasileirão Série A | |
|---|---|
| Name | Brasileirão Série A |
| Country | Brazil |
| Confed | CONMEBOL |
| Founded | 1971 |
| Teams | 20 |
| Relegation | Campeonato Brasileiro Série B |
| Domestic cup | Copa do Brasil |
| Confed cup | Copa Libertadores |
| Champions | Palmeiras |
| Season | 2023 |
Brasileirão Série A is the top tier of professional association football in Brazil, featuring twenty clubs competing annually for the national championship and places in continental competitions. The competition traces its roots to earlier national tournaments and state championships, evolving under the governance of the Brazilian Football Confederation and intersecting with CONMEBOL's Libertadores and Sudamericana calendars. Clubs contesting the title include historic institutions from São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Minas Gerais, Rio Grande do Sul and other states, with winners earning qualification to continental and intercontinental events.
The national championship emerged from predecessors such as the Taça Brasil, the Torneio Roberto Gomes Pedrosa and regional competitions organised by state federations, culminating in the modern league overseen by the Confederação Brasileira de Futebol since 1971. Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, power dynamics involved clubs like Flamengo, Fluminense FC, Cruzeiro Esporte Clube, Sport Club Internacional, Grêmio Foot-Ball Porto Alegrense and Santos FC, while the 1990s and 2000s saw the rise of São Paulo FC, SE Palmeiras, SC Corinthians Paulista and Clube Atlético Mineiro. Periods of reform included the creation of the Campeonato Brasileiro Série B and restructuring influenced by television deals with broadcasters such as Rede Globo and later commercial partners, alongside landmark matches at venues like Estádio do Maracanã, Estádio do Morumbi, Mineirão and Beira-Rio.
The league currently uses a double round-robin format with twenty teams playing home-and-away fixtures, a structure shared historically with other national leagues such as English Football League, La Liga and Serie A (Italy). Points follow the international standard adopted after the FIFA decision on three points for a win, applied across seasons that also accommodated multiple formats including playoffs influenced by knockout models used in Copa Libertadores qualifying and knockout cups like Copa do Brasil. Matchday scheduling aligns with CONMEBOL calendars, international breaks recognised by FIFA International Match Calendar and domestic cup rounds often staged at neutral venues such as Estádio Nacional Mané Garrincha.
Top finishers qualify for the Copa Libertadores and Copa Sudamericana according to allocations set by CONMEBOL and the CBF, while the bottom four teams are relegated to Campeonato Brasileiro Série B with promotion decided via play-offs or automatic promotion depending on regulations shared with leagues like Argentina Primera División. Qualification pathways integrate performance in the Copa do Brasil, state championships such as the Campeonato Paulista, Campeonato Carioca and Campeonato Mineiro, and historic berths earned by clubs with strong records in tournaments like the Copa CONMEBOL and Recopa Sudamericana.
Traditional powerhouses include Flamengo, Palmeiras, Corinthians, São Paulo FC, Cruzeiro Esporte Clube, Atlético Mineiro, Grêmio, Internacional, Santos FC and Vasco da Gama, while clubs from cities such as São Paulo (city), Rio de Janeiro (city), Belo Horizonte, Porto Alegre and Curitiba regularly compete. Stadiums hosting fixtures range from historic venues like Maracanã Stadium and Estádio do Morumbi to modern arenas such as Allianz Parque and Arena Corinthians, with municipal and privately owned grounds managed in coordination with state federations and club boards composed of officials with ties to institutions like the Brazilian Olympic Committee in broader sporting governance.
All-time leading scorers, appearance holders and club title totals reflect contributions from players and managers affiliated with clubs including Pelé, Zico, Romário, Ronaldo (Brazilian footballer), Neymar, Rivaldo and coaches such as Telê Santana and Luiz Felipe Scolari. Statistical milestones include highest points tallies, longest unbeaten runs and record attendances at matches featuring derbies like Clássico dos Milhões and Gre-Nal. Clubs hold records across national and continental competitions, with historical achievements comparable to continental records held by clubs in competitions like the Copa Libertadores and intercontinental contests such as the Intercontinental Cup.
Each season features narratives shaped by title races, relegation battles and continental qualification, with landmark campaigns like Flamengo 1981, Palmeiras 1993 and the treble pursuits of Cruzeiro 2003 and Grêmio 2017 illustrating shifts in competitive balance. Player transfers involving figures who moved between Europe and Brazil, including transfers to clubs like Real Madrid CF, FC Barcelona, Manchester United and AC Milan, affect season trajectories, while managerial changes referencing coaches who served at national teams like Brazil national football team influence strategic outcomes.
Broadcasting rights have been central to the league's commercial model, negotiated with networks such as Rede Globo, pay-TV operators like ESPN Brasil and streaming platforms increasingly prominent alongside international partners including DAZN and global rights holders. Sponsorship deals involve corporations across sectors, with title and shirt sponsors from brands comparable to multinational partners of other leagues such as Nike, Adidas, Guarana Antarctica and banking institutions that participate in sponsorship programs alongside events like the Copa América.
Category:Football leagues in Brazil