Campeonato Brasileiro Série C

Not to be confused with Serie C.

Campeonato Brasileiro Série C
Founded1981 (1981)
CountryBrazil
Number of clubs20 (24 from 2027)
Level on pyramid3
Promotion toSérie B
Relegation toSérie D
Current championsPonte Preta (1st title)
(2025)
Most championshipsVila Nova
(3 titles)
Broadcaster(s)DAZN
SportyNet
WebsiteOfficial website
Current: 2026 Campeonato Brasileiro Série C

The Campeonato Brasileiro Série C, commonly known as the Série C or the Brazilian Série C to distinguish it from the Italian Serie C, 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, and the tournament is organized in a different format.

From 1981 to 2008, it was the lowest national division of the country. However, beginning in 2009, the Série C was reduced from 64 teams to 20 and the new Campeonato Brasileiro Série D was introduced. In its current format, the first phase is played in a single round, with 19 matches. The top eight teams qualify for a second stage and the top two of each 4-team group are promoted to the Campeonato Brasileiro Série B, and the group winners decide the title. The four lowest-placed teams are relegated to the Campeonato Brasileiro Série D.

History

Until 2008, the Série C was the lowest national division of Brazil. The teams that had been relegated from the Série B in the previous year were joined by teams qualified through each state championship, with those being the best teams not in the Série A, Série B or the four relegated to Série C. Qualification rules varied from state to state, with some federations using the state tournaments as qualification tournaments, and others organizing state cups, which served as qualification tournaments to the Série C.

From 2009 onwards, the competition was reduced to 20 teams. In the first format, the first stage was played in four groups of five teams each, and a 8-team knockout phase. 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, with an 8-team knockout stage. 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.

There are calls to introduce the same format as the Série A and Série B, however this format hasn't yet been introduced to the competition.

2026 Série C teams

Team Home city State Stadium Capacity
Amazonas Manaus Amazonas Municipal Carlos Zamith 5,000
Arena da Amazônia 44,000
Anápolis Anápolis Goiás Jonas Duarte 14,000
Barra Itajaí Santa Catarina Arena Barra FC 5,500
Botafogo-PB João Pessoa Paraíba Almeidão 25,770
Brusque Brusque Santa Catarina Augusto Bauer 5,000
Caxias Caxias do Sul Rio Grande do Sul Centenário 22,132
Confiança Aracaju Sergipe Batistão 15,575
Ferroviária Araraquara São Paulo Fonte Luminosa 20,000
Figueirense Florianópolis Santa Catarina Orlando Scarpelli 19,584
Floresta Fortaleza Ceará Presidente Vargas 20,262
Guarani Campinas São Paulo Brinco de Ouro 29,130
Inter de Limeira Limeira Major José Levy Sobrinho 23,475
Itabaiana Itabaiana Sergipe Etelvino Mendonça 12,000
Ituano Itu São Paulo Novelli Júnior 18,560
Maranhão São Luís Maranhão Castelão 40,149
Maringá Maringá Paraná Willie Davids 16,226
Paysandu Belém Pará Curuzu 16,200
Mangueirão 53,635
Santa Cruz Recife Pernambuco Arruda 60,044
Volta Redonda Volta Redonda Rio de Janeiro Raulino de Oliveira 20,255
Ypiranga Erechim Rio Grande do Sul Colosso da Lagoa 22,000

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[1]). The following table shows the winners and runners-up of the Série C tournaments played from 1981, according to the Brazilian Football Confederation:[2]

Ed. Season Champion Runner-up
1
 1981 Rio de Janeiro (state) Olaria Pernambuco Santo Amaro[a]
–
 1982–1987 Not held
2
 1988 São Paulo (state) União São João Minas Gerais Esportivo
–
 1989 Not held
3
 1990 Goiás Atlético Goianiense Minas Gerais América Mineiro
–
 1991 Not held
4
 1992 Pará Tuna Luso Bahia Fluminense de Feira
–
 1993 Not held
5
 1994 São Paulo (state) Novorizontino São Paulo (state) Ferroviária
6
 1995 São Paulo (state) XV de Piracicaba Rio de Janeiro (state) Volta Redonda
7
 1996 Goiás Vila Nova São Paulo (state) Botafogo
8
 1997 Maranhão Sampaio Corrêa São Paulo (state) Juventus
9
 1998 Santa Catarina (state) Avaí São Paulo (state) São Caetano
10
 1999 Rio de Janeiro (state) Fluminense Amazonas (Brazilian state) São Raimundo
11
 2000 Not held
See Copa João Havelange Group Green and White
12
 2001 São Paulo (state) Etti Jundiaí[b] São Paulo (state) Mogi Mirim
13
 2002 Federal District (Brazil) Brasiliense São Paulo (state) Marília
14
 2003 São Paulo (state) Ituano São Paulo (state) Santo André
15
 2004 São Paulo (state) União Barbarense Federal District (Brazil) Gama
16
 2005 Pará Remo Rio Grande do Norte América de Natal
17
 2006 Santa Catarina (state) Criciúma Bahia Vitória
18
 2007 São Paulo (state) Bragantino Bahia Bahia
19
 2008 Goiás Atlético Goianiense São Paulo (state) Guarani
20
 2009 Minas Gerais América Mineiro Alagoas ASA
21
 2010 Rio Grande do Norte ABC Minas Gerais Ituiutaba[c]
22
 2011 Santa Catarina (state) Joinville Alagoas CRB
23
 2012 São Paulo (state) Oeste Ceará Icasa
24
 2013 Pernambuco Santa Cruz Maranhão Sampaio Corrêa
25
 2014 Rio de Janeiro (state) Macaé Pará Paysandu
26
 2015 Goiás Vila Nova Paraná (state) Londrina
27
 2016 Minas Gerais Boa Esporte São Paulo (state) Guarani
28
 2017 Alagoas CSA Ceará Fortaleza
29
 2018 Paraná (state) Operário Ferroviário Mato Grosso Cuiabá
30
 2019 Pernambuco Náutico Maranhão Sampaio Corrêa
31
 2020 Goiás Vila Nova Pará Remo
32
 2021 São Paulo (state) Ituano Minas Gerais Tombense
33
 2022 São Paulo (state) Mirassol Rio Grande do Norte ABC
34
 2023 Amazonas (Brazilian state) Amazonas Santa Catarina (state) Brusque
35
 2024 Rio de Janeiro (state) Volta Redonda Minas Gerais Athletic
36
 2025 São Paulo (state) Ponte Preta Paraná (state) Londrina
  1. ^ Named Manchete after 2005, disestablished in 2008.[3]
  2. ^ Currently named Paulista.
  3. ^ Currently named Boa Esporte.

Unofficial champions

The following season is the part corresponding to the third level of the Copa João Havelange, a competition organized by the Clube dos 13, and is not officially recognized by the CBF:[2][4]

Season Champion Runner-up Comments
2000 Paraná (state) Malutrom Minas Gerais Uberlândia It was the Green and White modules of the Copa João Havelange.

Titles by team

Rank Club Winners Winning years
1 Goiás Vila Nova 3 1996, 2015, 2020
2 Goiás Atlético Goianiense 2 1990, 2008
São Paulo (state) Ituano 2003, 2021
4 Rio Grande do Norte ABC 1 2010
Amazonas (Brazilian state) Amazonas 2023
Minas Gerais América Mineiro 2009
Santa Catarina (state) Avaí 1998
Minas Gerais Boa Esporte 2016
Federal District (Brazil) Brasiliense 2002
Santa Catarina (state) Criciúma 2006
Alagoas CSA 2017
Rio de Janeiro (state) Fluminense 1999
Santa Catarina (state) Joinville 2011
Rio de Janeiro (state) Macaé 2014
São Paulo (state) Mirassol 2022
Pernambuco Náutico 2019
São Paulo (state) Novorizontino 1994
São Paulo (state) Oeste 2012
Rio de Janeiro (state) Olaria 1981
Paraná (state) Operário Ferroviário 2018
São Paulo (state) Paulista 2001
São Paulo (state) Ponte Preta 2025
São Paulo (state) Red Bull Bragantino 2007
Pará Remo 2005
Maranhão Sampaio Corrêa 1997
Pernambuco Santa Cruz 2013
Pará Tuna Luso 1992
São Paulo (state) União Barbarense 2004
São Paulo (state) União São João 1988
Rio de Janeiro (state) Volta Redonda 2024
São Paulo (state) XV de Piracicaba 1995

Titles by state

State Nº of titles
São Paulo 11
Goiás 5
Rio de Janeiro 4
Santa Catarina 3
Minas Gerais 2
Pará 2
Pernambuco 2
Alagoas 1
Amazonas 1
Distrito Federal 1
Maranhão 1
Paraná 1
Rio Grande do Norte 1

Participations

Most appearances

As of 2026 season

Below is the list of clubs that have more appearances in the Campeonato Brasileiro Série C.[5]

Club App First Last
Confiança 25 1988 2026
Botafogo (PB) 23 1988 2026
Caxias 19 1990 2026
Volta Redonda 18 1988 2026
Ferroviário 17 1988 2024
CSA 16 1990 2025
Tupi 16 1988 2018
Brasil de Pelotas 15 1995 2022
Treze 15 1992 2020
ABC 14 1988 2025
Figueirense 14 1981 2026
Fortaleza 14 1990 2017
Paysandu 14 1990 2026
ASA 13 1992 2017
Madureira 13 1981 2015
Sampaio Corrêa 13 1992 2024
Atlético Goianiense 12 1990 2008
Itabaiana 12 1994 2026
Rio Branco (SP) 12 1994 2006
Ypiranga de Erechim 12 1995 2026

Clubs promoted to Série B

Year Clubs
1981 Olaria[a]
1988 None
1990 None
1992 None
1994 Novorizontino, Ferroviária
1995 XV de Piracicaba, Volta Redonda, Gama[b], Atlético Goianiense[b], ABC[b], Joinville[b]
1996 Vila Nova, Botafogo (SP)
1997 Sampaio Corrêa, Juventus
1998 Avaí, São Caetano
1999–2000 See Copa João Havelange
2001 Etti Jundiaí, Mogi Mirim, Guarany de Sobral[c]
2002 Brasiliense, Marília
2003 Ituano, Santo André
2004 União Barbarense, Gama
2005 Remo, América de Natal
2006 Criciúma, Vitória, Ipatinga, Grêmio Barueri
2007 Bragantino, Bahia, Vila Nova, ABC
2008 Atlético Goianiense, Guarani, Campinense, Duque de Caxias
2009 América Mineiro, ASA, Guaratinguetá, Icasa
2010 ABC, Ituiutaba, Criciúma, Salgueiro
2011 Joinville, CRB, Ipatinga, América de Natal
2012 Oeste, Icasa, Chapecoense, Paysandu
2013 Santa Cruz, Sampaio Corrêa, Luverdense, Vila Nova
2014 Macaé, Paysandu, Mogi Mirim, CRB
2015 Vila Nova, Londrina, Tupi, Brasil de Pelotas
2016 Boa Esporte, Guarani, ABC, Juventude
2017 CSA, Fortaleza, Sampaio Corrêa, São Bento
2018 Operário Ferroviário, Cuiabá, Botafogo (SP), Bragantino
2019 Náutico, Sampaio Corrêa, Juventude, Confiança
2020 Vila Nova, Remo, Brusque, Londrina
2021 Ituano, Tombense, Novorizontino, Criciúma
2022 Mirassol, ABC, Botafogo (SP), Vitória
2023 Amazonas, Brusque, Operário Ferroviário, Paysandu
2024 Volta Redonda, Athletic, Ferroviária, Remo
2025 Ponte Preta, Londrina, Náutico, São Bernardo
  1. ^
    Olaria lost the right to compete in the 1982 Taça de Prata after being relegated in the Campeonato Carioca.[6]
  2. ^
    Teams promoted after América de Rio Preto, Bangu, Barra do Garças, Ferroviária and Novorizontino withdrew from Série B.[7]
  3. ^
    Promoted after Malutron withdrew from Série B.[8]

Clubs relegated to Série D

Year Clubs
2010 Alecrim, Juventude, Gama, São Raimundo (PA)
2011 Campinense, Marília, Brasil de Pelotas, Araguaína
2012 Salgueiro, Santo André, Guarany de Sobral, Tupi
2013 Betim[d], Brasiliense, Grêmio Barueri, Baraúnas, Rio Branco (AC)
2014 São Caetano, Treze, CRAC, Duque de Caxias
2015 Águia de Marabá, Madureira, Icasa, Caxias
2016 América de Natal, Portuguesa, Ríver, Guaratinguetá
2017 Moto Club, Macaé, ASA, Mogi Mirim
2018 Tupi, Juazeirense, Salgueiro, Joinville
2019 ABC, Globo, Luverdense, Atlético Acreano
2020 Treze, São Bento, Boa Esporte, Imperatriz
2021 Jacuipense, Paraná, Santa Cruz, Oeste
2022 Atlético Cearense, Brasil de Pelotas, Ferroviário, Campinense
2023 Manaus, América de Natal, Altos, Pouso Alegre
2024 Sampaio Corrêa, Aparecidense, Ferroviário, São José (RS)
2025 CSA, ABC, Retrô, Tombense
  1. ^
    Expelled by the sports court. CRAC is spared from relegation.[9]

Topscorers

Year Player (team) Goals
1981 Fabinho (Santo Amaro)
Pedro Müller (São Borja) 		5
1988 Kel (União São João) 9
1990 Júlio César (Atlético Goianiense) 10
1992 Jorge Veras (Ferroviário-CE) 9
1994 Rogerinho (Caldas) 5
1995 Serginho (XV de Piracicaba) 6
1996 Marcelinho (Rio Branco-SP) 16
1997 Marcelo Baron (Sampaio Corrêa) 9
1998 Fabrício (Anapolina) 14
1999 Aldrovani (Figueirense) 14
2000 Murilo (Tuna Luso) 10
2001 Edmilson (Brasiliense)
Jean Carlos (Etti Jundiaí)
Rodrigo Ayres (Atlético Goianiense) 		14
2002 Túlio Maravilha (Brasiliense)
Wellington Dias (Brasiliense) 		11
2003 Nílson Sergipano (Botafogo-PB) 11
2004 Frontini (União Barbarense)
Marciano (Limoeiro)
Vítor (Gama) 		10
2005 Paulinho Marília (América-RN) 10
2006 Sorato (Bahia) 16
2007 Túlio Maravilha (Vila Nova) 27
2008 Marcão (Atlético Goianiense) 25
2009 Marciano (Icasa)
Nena (ASA) 		8
2010 Bruno Rangel (Paysandu) 8
2011 Ronaldo Capixaba (Joinville) 11
2012 Dênis Marques (Santa Cruz) 11
2013 Assisinho (Fortaleza) 12
2014 Ytalo (Guaratinguetá) 12
2015 Guilherme Queiróz (Portuguesa) 12
2016 Jones Carioca (ABC) 12
2017 Rafael Grampola (Joinville) 13
2018 Caio Dantas (Botafogo-SP) 11
2019 Eduardo (Treze)
Luiz Eduardo (São José-RS)
Negueba (Globo)
Salatiel (Sampaio Corrêa) 		8
2020 Thiago Alagoano (Brusque) 12
2021 Diego Quirino (Ypiranga de Erechim) 10
2022 Alex Henrique (Aparecidense) 12
2023 Sassá (Amazonas) 18
2024 Kayke (São Bernardo)
Paulo Sérgio (Náutico) 		10
2025 Iago Teles (Londrina)
Jonas Toró (Ponte Preta) 		8

Winning managers

Year Manager Club
1981 Duque Olaria
1988 José Duarte União São João
1990 Homero Cavalheiro Atlético Goianiense
1992 Nélio Pereira Tuna Luso
1994 José Teixeira Novorizotino
1995 Vadão XV de Piracicaba
1996 Roberval Davino Vila Nova
1997 Pinho Sampaio Corrêa
1998 Roberto Cavalo Avaí
1999 Carlos Alberto Parreira Fluminense
2000 Amauri Knevitz Malutron
2001 Giba Etti Jundiaí
2002 Gérson Andreotti Brasiliense
2003 Ruy Scarpino Ituano
2004 Sérgio Farias União Barbarense
2005 Roberval Davino (2) Remo
2006 Guilherme Macuglia Criciúma
2007 Marcelo Veiga Bragantino
2008 Mauro Fernandes Atlético Goianiense
2009 Givanildo Oliveira América Mineiro
2010 Leandro Campos ABC
2011 Arturzinho Joinville
2012 Luís Carlos Martins Oeste
2013 Vica Santa Cruz
2014 Josué Teixeira Macaé
2015 Márcio Fernandes Vila Nova
2016 Ney da Matta Boa Esporte
2017 Flávio Araújo CSA
2018 Gerson Gusmão Operário Ferroviário
2019 Gilmar Dal Pozzo Náutico
2020 Márcio Fernandes (2) Vila Nova
2021 Mazola Júnior Ituano
2022 Ricardo Catalá Mirassol
2023 Luizinho Vieira Amazonas
2024 Rogério Corrêa Volta Redonda
2025 Marcelo Fernandes Ponte Preta

See also

References

  1. ^ "Brazil 2nd Level 1989 Divisão Especial" Archived December 29, 2017, at the Wayback Machine. Rssf.
  2. ^ a b "Campeões" (in Portuguese). CBF. Archived from the original on October 14, 2009. Retrieved October 29, 2009.
  3. ^ "A história do time que se chamava Vovozinhas e mudou de nome para jogar futebol profissional". GloboEsporte (in Portuguese). April 28, 2020. Archived from the original on October 23, 2023.
  4. ^ Enciclopédia do Futebol Brasileiro Lance Volume 2. Rio de Janeiro: Aretê Editorial S/A. 2001. p. 387. ISBN 85-88651-01-7.
  5. ^ "Participantes do Campeonato Brasileiro - Histórico ano a ano". RSSSF. Archived from the original on August 14, 2025. Retrieved December 7, 2025.
  6. ^ "Brazil 2nd Level 1982". RSSSF. Archived from the original on February 21, 2024. Retrieved May 25, 2023.
  7. ^ "Com quedas inéditas, veja como ficou o ranking de rebaixamentos no futebol brasileiro". Atualiza Bahia (in Portuguese). December 10, 2019. Archived from the original on September 25, 2021. Retrieved May 25, 2023.
  8. ^ "Malutron desiste de disputar Série B". Estadão (in Portuguese). July 20, 2002. Archived from the original on May 25, 2023. Retrieved May 25, 2023.
  9. ^ "CRAC ganha briga e fica com vaga do Betim na Série C". Estadão (in Portuguese). April 18, 2014. Archived from the original on May 26, 2023. Retrieved May 25, 2023.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 unless otherwise noted. Additional terms may apply for the media files.