Copa do Brasil

The Copa do Brasil ( Brazilian Portuguese pronunciation: [ˈkɔ.pɐ du bɾaˈziw], English: Brazil Cup) is a knockout football competition played by 126 clubs, representing all 26 Brazilian states and the Federal District. It is the Brazilian domestic cup and it is the Brazilian equivalent of the FA Cup, Taça de Portugal, Copa del Rey, Scottish Cup and Copa Argentina, even though it has much more prestige and is considered almost as important as the Campeonato Brasileiro, as the prize money is higher than the Brasileirão's. The winner of the cup automatically qualifies for the following edition of the Copa Libertadores, the most prestigious continental football tournament contested by top clubs in South America, organized by CONMEBOL.

Initially, the Copa do Brasil was contested by 32 clubs. The field increased to 40 in 1996, increased to 69 by the year of 2000, and stabilized at 64 after 2001, until 2012. Clubs from all 26 Brazilian states and the Federal District participate. From 2001 to 2012, the Copa do Brasil was played in the first half of the year and in those seasons, due to busy scheduling, teams playing in the Copa Libertadores did not participate in the Copa do Brasil during the same year. Thus, the Copa do Brasil champion never defended their title in the next edition, since they would be qualified for the Copa Libertadores that year. From 2013 to 2015, 87 clubs participate in the cup and the teams that compete in the Copa Libertadores join the Copa do Brasil directly in the Round of 16. Also, the best 8 from the previous year's Campeonato Brasileiro Série A eliminated up to the third round qualify for Copa Sudamericana.