This Tuesday night (17) was marked by the first of the 155 games planned for this year’s Copa do Brasil. At the Lourival Gomes Stadium, in Saquarema (RJ), Desportiva beat Sampaio Corrêa-RJ on penalties, 3-1, after a 1-1 draw in normal time.
Locomotiva Grená, as the team from Espírito Santo is known, opened the scoring in the 24th minute of the second half, with a strong shot from Tiago Moura. The hosts equalized at 42, with a penalty taken by fellow striker Octávio.
In the penalty shootout, Sampaio failed to aim. Full-back Guilherme and attackers Matheus Goiano and Lecarlos wasted the kicks, to the delight of the Desportiva fans, who traveled more than 470 kilometers to push the team in Saquarema. It was the first time that the club advanced to the next stage in the Copa do Brasil.
The victory was worth R$830,000 to the team from Espírito Santo for qualifying. Added to the R$400,000 participation fee, Locomotiva has already accumulated R$1.23 million in prizes in the championship.
The first phase brings together the 28 teams classified in the competition that are the worst placed in the ranking of the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF). Eleven matches will take place in the tournament this Wednesday (18) and two more on Thursday (19). Check out the clashes, in Brasília time:
Wednesday’s Games (18)
4pm – Porto-BA x Serra Branca – Agnaldo Bento, in Porto Seguro (BA)
4:30 pm – Maguary x Laguna – Arthur Tavares, in Bonito (PE)
5pm – Baré x Madureira – Canarinho, in Boa Vista
7:30 pm – Araguaína x Primavera-SP – Mirandão, in Araguaína (TO)
8pm – Betim x Piauí – Arena Urbsan, in Betim (MG)
8pm – Santa Catarina x Iape – Alfredo Krieck, in Rio do Sul (SC)
8pm – Gama x Monte Roraima – Bezerrão, in Gama (DF)
8pm – América-SE x Tirol – Batistão, in Aracaju
8:30 pm – Ji-Paraná x Pantanal – Biancão, in Ji-Paraná (RO)
8:30 pm – Ivinhema x Independente-AP – Saraivão, in Ivinhema (MS)
9pm – Vasco-AC x Velo Clube – Arena da Floresta, in Rio Branco
Thursday’s games (19)
8pm – Primavera-MT x Bragantino-PA – Cerradão, in Primavera do Leste (MT)
9pm – Galvez x Guaporé – Arena da Floresta, in Rio Branco
New format
The 2026 edition of the Copa do Brasil brings together a record number of 126 clubs. The regulation has undergone changes. If until last year the teams with a place in the Libertadores and the national champions (Series B, C and D) and regional cups entered the third phase, this time the inclusion of new participants occurs from the second to the fifth phase, the last before the round of 16, which is when the 20 teams from Series A of the Brazilian Championship arrive to compete.
The definition of single-game clashes, previously restricted to the first two stages, was extended to the fourth stage. From then on, the duels will have round-trip matches, except for the final, which will be held, in an unprecedented way, in just one match and on a neutral field.
To the 14 teams classified in the first phase, another 74 will be included, totaling 88 clubs. Desportiva, according to the classification on Tuesday, will face Sport. The match is scheduled for March 5th, a Thursday, at 7pm, at the Engenheiro Araripe Stadium, in Cariacica (ES).
