Campeonato Brasileiro Série C
Football league in Brazil
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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.
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| Founded | 1981 |
|---|---|
| Country | Brazil |
| Number of clubs | 20 (24 from 2027) |
| Level on pyramid | 3 |
| Promotion to | Série B |
| Relegation to | Série D |
| Current champions | Ponte Preta (1st title) (2025) |
| Most championships | Vila Nova (3 titles) |
| Broadcaster(s) | DAZN SportyNet |
| Website | Official website |
| Current: 2026 Campeonato Brasileiro Série C | |
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
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]
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 |  Malutrom |
 Uberlândia |
It was the Green and White modules of the Copa João Havelange. |
Titles by team
| Rank | Club | Winners | Winning years |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Vila Nova |
3 | 1996, 2015, 2020 |
| 2 | Atlético Goianiense |
2 | 1990, 2008 |
 Ituano |
2003, 2021 | ||
| 4 |  ABC |
1 | 2010 |
 Amazonas |
2023 | ||
| América Mineiro |
2009 | ||
 Avaí |
1998 | ||
| Boa Esporte |
2016 | ||
 Brasiliense |
2002 | ||
| Criciúma |
2006 | ||
 CSA |
2017 | ||
 Fluminense |
1999 | ||
| Joinville |
2011 | ||
| Macaé |
2014 | ||
| Mirassol |
2022 | ||
 Náutico |
2019 | ||
| Novorizontino |
1994 | ||
| Oeste |
2012 | ||
| Olaria |
1981 | ||
| Operário Ferroviário |
2018 | ||
| Paulista |
2001 | ||
| Ponte Preta |
2025 | ||
| Red Bull Bragantino |
2007 | ||
 Remo |
2005 | ||
 Sampaio Corrêa |
1997 | ||
| Santa Cruz |
2013 | ||
| Tuna Luso |
1992 | ||
| União Barbarense |
2004 | ||
| União São João |
1988 | ||
| Volta Redonda |
2024 | ||
| 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
- ^ Olaria lost the right to compete in the 1982 Taça de Prata after being relegated in the Campeonato Carioca.[6]
- ^ Teams promoted after América de Rio Preto, Bangu, Barra do Garças, Ferroviária and Novorizontino withdrew from Série B.[7]
- ^
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 |
Topscorers
Winning managers
See also
- Campeonato Brasileiro Série A, the main division of Brazilian football
- Campeonato Brasileiro Série B, the second division of Brazilian football
- Campeonato Brasileiro Série D, the fourth division of Brazilian football