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| Copa do Brasil de Futebol Feminino | |
|---|---|
| Name | Copa do Brasil de Futebol Feminino |
| Country | Brazil |
| Confed | Confederação Brasileira de Futebol |
| Founded | 2007 |
| Abolished | 2017 |
| Teams | variable |
| Most successful club | Ferroviária (2) |
Copa do Brasil de Futebol Feminino
The Copa do Brasil de Futebol Feminino was a national knockout Brazilan women's football cup competition organized by the Confederação Brasileira de Futebol between 2007 and 2017, contested by clubs from across São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Minas Gerais, Rio Grande do Sul, Bahia, Paraná and other federative units; it functioned alongside the Campeonato Brasileiro de Futebol Feminino and influenced selection for the Brazil women's national football team, the FIFA Women's World Cup, and continental tournaments like the Copa Libertadores Femenina.
The tournament was introduced in 2007 during a period of reform involving the Confederação Brasileira de Futebol, the Brazil women's national football team, and state federations including the Federação Paulista de Futebol and the Federação Gaúcha de Futebol; its creation followed earlier competitions such as the Taça Brasil de Futebol Feminino and precedents set by clubs like Santos, Centro Olímpico, and São José. Early editions featured clubs from metropolitan centers including Brasília, Belo Horizonte, Curitiba, and Porto Alegre, while prominent players such as Marta, Bárbara, Formiga, Cristiane and Marta Vieira—who also starred for FC Rosengård and Umeå IK—increased visibility. Changes in Brazilian football governance, sponsorship from entities linked to Banco do Brasil and negotiations with broadcasters like Rede Globo affected funding; later the emergence of the Campeonato Brasileiro de Futebol Feminino Série A1 and reforms by the Ministério do Esporte and municipal authorities contributed to the cup's discontinuation in 2017.
The competition employed a two-legged knockout format similar to the Copa do Brasil for men, with aggregate score, away goals, and penalty shootouts; ties involved clubs representing state federations such as the Federação Pernambucana de Futebol and the Federação Baiana de Futebol. Match officials were appointed by the Confederação Brasileira de Futebol and often included referees who participated in tournaments like the Copa América Femenina and Pan American Games. Eligibility rules referenced registration systems used by the CONMEBOL and transfer windows aligned with policies of the FIFA Players' Status Committee; clubs had to register squads under statutes akin to those of U.S. Soccer Federation influences and comply with youth-development mandates promoted by entities like the International Olympic Committee.
Clubs qualified via state championships run by federations including Federação Paulista de Futebol, Federação Carioca de Futebol, Federação Mineira de Futebol, Federação Gaúcha de Futebol, and Federação Paranaense de Futebol, with invitations extended to leading teams such as Ferroviária, Kindermann, Corinthians, Foz Cataratas and Audax. Participants also included institutional clubs like Cruzeiro and university-affiliated sides that had competed in tournaments organized by the União de Federações de Futebol do Brasil and development programs linked to the Brazilian Olympic Committee. The number of entrants varied annually, reflecting the growth of women's football infrastructure in cities such as Manaus, Fortaleza, Natal, and Salvador.
Finals often paired traditional male-club counterparts' women's teams, producing matchups between sides from São Paulo and Rio Grande do Sul or Santa Catarina. Champions included clubs like Ferroviária, Meli, São José, and Santos, with decisive games staged at venues such as the Estádio do Pacaembu, Estádio Vila Belmiro, Arena Corinthians, and regional stadiums in Araraquara and Caxias do Sul. The cup provided a competitive platform complementing clubs' campaigns in the Campeonato Brasileiro de Futebol Feminino and access to regional tournaments like the Copa Libertadores Femenina for top performers.
Top scorers and appearance leaders reflected careers that intersected with international play for the Brazil women's national football team, the Olympic Games and club stints at Chelsea FC Women and Tyresö FF. Goalkeeping records included notable performances by players who also represented Brazil at tournaments such as the FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup and the South American U-20 Women's Championship. Clubs like Ferroviária and São José appear repeatedly in statistical leaderboards for wins, clean sheets and consecutive knockout rounds, while state federations including the Federação Paulista de Futebol and Federação Gaúcha de Futebol dominate participation tallies.
Prominent clubs that raised the profile of the competition included Santos, São José, Ferroviária, Corinthians, Kindermann, Foz Cataratas, Cruzeiro, and Audax. Notable players who starred in the cup and elsewhere include Marta, Formiga, Cristiane, Bárbara, Adriana, Érika, and younger talents who progressed to clubs such as FC Barcelona Femení and PSV Vrouwen.
The competition contributed to talent pathways feeding the Brazil women's national football team, influenced policy discussions at the Confederação Brasileira de Futebol and the Ministério do Esporte, and intersected with sponsorship from corporations including Banco do Brasil and broadcasters like Rede Globo and Band. It spurred investment in stadia improvements in cities such as Araraquara and Caxias do Sul, encouraged state federations including the Federação Paulista de Futebol to expand youth programs, and complemented continental competitions like the Copa Libertadores Femenina and multi-sport events such as the Pan American Games and the Olympic Games by increasing match experience for players who would represent Brazil internationally.
Category:Women's football competitions in Brazil