State football leagues in Brazil

thumb|[[Grêmio Foot-Ball Porto Alegrense|Grêmio vs. União Frederiquense for 2015 Campeonato Gaúcho]]

The Brazilian states football championships ( or simply Estaduais) are the professional adult male football competitions in Brazil that take place between January and April for the Northeast, Central-West, Southeast and South regions. In some states from the North Region, however, it takes place in May or June. One such league, the Campeonato Paulista, which started in 1902, is the oldest football competition in Brazil. All professional football clubs in Brazil play in a state championship, but not all qualify for the national league.

The state championships were the first professional competitions formed in Brazil; due to economic and geographic reasons, and especially long distances between the country's main cities and different states, each of the federative units of Brazil created their own football championship. As such, state leagues were the main competition and even after the creation of a proper national championship in 1971 the state leagues remained prestigious and important for Brazilian fans up to the 1980s and 1990s, when national and continental competitions surpassed them in terms of relevance. Before the 1989 Campeonato Brasileiro, clubs qualified to the national league through their performances at their state's league. The 1963 Campeonato Carioca final, a Fla–Flu at the Maracanã, holds the world record for attendance at a club match: 194,603 spectators.

The state championships run as a parallel league to the main Brazilian Championships. Clubs compete in both Brazilian and state championships simultaneously, and each state league has its own format and divisions with promotion and relegation. Good standings in the tables qualify teams for the following year's Copa do Brasil,

Overview

thumb|[[São Paulo Athletic Club and CA Paulistano in the final of the first São Paulo State Championship in 1902 ]]

Historically, for economic and geographic reasons, such as long distances between the country's main cities, the state leagues were considered the most important championship for Brazilian clubs, especially before 1959, when a regular national championship (Taça Brasil) was first established. In recent years, bigger clubs have become increasingly critical of the state leagues, which are often blamed for the lack of space in Brazil's football calendar and have lost most of its old prestige. In addition, the highest ranked clubs in each state that do not compete in the Brazilian Championship Serie A, Serie B or Serie C qualify for next year's Serie D. Finally, the best teams in each state league can also qualify for regional cups such as the Copa do Nordeste (for Northeastern clubs) and Copa Verde (for clubs from North and Center-West regions). To prepare for the State Championship, divisionless clubs, lacking a full-year calendar, play training games and some choose to face Municipal Selections in different regions.

thumb|[[Campeonato Acreano (for the state of Acre) between Atlético Acreano and Alto Acre, 2015]]

The only state championship that does not use the official gentilic of those born in the state is the one in Rio de Janeiro, since, popularly, the tournament is called Campeonato Carioca (Carioca is the official gentilic of the municipality of Rio de Janeiro), instead of Campeonato Fluminense. This occurs for three reasons: the first because of tradition, since the big clubs in the state, when Rio de Janeiro was still the capital of Brazil, disputed the Campeonato Carioca and not the Campeonato Fluminense; the second because popular and culturally Carioca is the gentilic by which its inhabitants are usually known outside the state of Rio de Janeiro, and the third because there is a traditional club in the state called Fluminense, which could generate complaints from rivals if the championship were so called. Because of this, the Rio state football championship is officially called the Campeonato Estadual do Rio de Janeiro

thumb|Match for the [[Carioca Championship between Botafogo from the city of Rio de Janeiro and Resende Futebol Clube from the city of Resende, in the interior of the state of Rio de Janeiro. Unlike other states, the Carioca Championship uses the city's gentilic and not the state's

The players most often champions are the left midfielder Quarentinha, with 12 titles, all for Paysandu, between the 1950s and the 1970s, being the one with the most triumphs in a single state and by the same club; defender Durval, who in 2017 also won his 12th state title, in 5 FUs (each for a single team), among trophies accumulated since 2003 between the Campeonato Paraibano, Brasiliense, Paranaense, Pernambucano (6) and Paulista (3) championships; the midfielder Givanildo Oliveira, winner of 10 Pernambucanos, as well as a Paulista and a Carioca; and Jorge Henrique, who is perhaps the player who won in more states, as he was champion 12 times by 8 teams in 8 FUs (CE, DF, PE (3), PR, RJ, RS (2), SC and SP (2). As a coach, the same Givanildo won 18 state teams for 10 teams in 6 FUs, an absolute record: 7 Paraenses, 5 Pernambucanos, 2 Cearenses, 2 Alagoanos, 1 Baiano and 1 Mineiro. This adds up to 30 state commemorations for Givanildo, an isolated record holder. Another big winner is Vanderlei Luxemburgo, who won 14 times for 9 teams in 5 FUs (9 Paulistas, 2 Mineiros, 1 Carioca, 1 Capixaba and 1 Pernambucano) as a coach (already having three achievements as a player: 3 Cariocas), having nine titles this century, being tied at the top of this stat with Givanildo, who in turn is also the statewide winner for more different teams in the 21st century (8).

List of state football leagues in Brazil

{| class="wikitable"

!width=175px|Federal unit

!width=225px|Championship

!width=200px|2026 Champion

!width=200px|Most Championships

| Acre

|Campeonato Acreano

|Santa Cruz (1st)

|Rio Branco (49)

| Alagoas

|Campeonato Alagoano

|CRB (36th)

|CSA (40)

| Amapá

|Campeonato Amapaense

|Santos (8th)

|Macapá (17)

| Amazonas

|Campeonato Amazonense

|Nacional (44th)

|Nacional (44)

| Bahia

|Campeonato Baiano

|Bahia (52nd)

|Bahia (52)

| Ceará

|Campeonato Cearense

|Fortaleza (47th)

|Ceará and Fortaleza (47)

| Distrito Federal

|Campeonato Brasiliense

|Gama (15th)

|Gama (15)

| Espírito Santo

|Campeonato Capixaba

|Porto Vitória (1st)

|Rio Branco (39)

| Goiás

|Campeonato Goiano

|Goiás (29th)

|Goiás (29)

| Maranhão

|Campeonato Maranhense

|IAPE (1st)

|Sampaio Corrêa (37)

| Mato Grosso

|Campeonato Mato-Grossense

|Mixto (25th)

|Mixto (25)

| Mato Grosso do Sul

|Campeonato Sul-Mato-Grossense

|Operário (15th)

|Operário (15)

| Minas Gerais

|Campeonato Mineiro

|Cruzeiro (39th)

|Atlético Mineiro (50)

| Pará

|Campeonato Paraense

|Paysandu (51st)

|Paysandu (51)

| Paraíba

|Campeonato Paraibano

|Botafogo (31st)

|Botafogo (31)

| Paraná

|Campeonato Paranaense

|Operário Ferroviário (3rd)

|Coritiba (39)

| Pernambuco

|Campeonato Pernambucano

|Sport Recife (46th)

|Sport Recife (46)

| Piauí

|Campeonato Piauiense

|Piauí (7th)

|Ríver (32)

| Rio de Janeiro

|Campeonato Carioca

|Flamengo (40th)

|Flamengo (40)

| Rio Grande do Norte

|Campeonato Potiguar

|América (40th)

|ABC (57)

| Rio Grande do Sul

|Campeonato Gaúcho

|Grêmio (44th)

|Internacional (46)

| Rondônia

|Campeonato Rondoniense

|Guaporé (1st)

|Ferroviário (17)

| Roraima

|Campeonato Roraimense

|GAS (3rd)

|Baré (26)

| Santa Catarina

|Campeonato Catarinense

|Barra (1st)

|Avaí (19)

| São Paulo

|Campeonato Paulista

|Palmeiras (27th)

|Corinthians (31)

| Sergipe

|Campeonato Sergipano

|Sergipe (38th)

|Sergipe (38)

| Tocantins

|Campeonato Tocantinense

|Tocantinópolis (8th)

|Palmas and Tocantinópolis (8)

From amateurism to professionalism

{| class="wikitable"

! rowspan="2" width="175px" |Federal unit

! colspan="2" width="460px" |Amateur era

! colspan="2" width="460px" |Professional era

!Championship

!Organising body

!Championship

!Organising body

| Acre

| Campeonato Acreano (1919)

| LRF / LAET / FAD / FFA

| Campeonato Acreano (1989)

| FFA

| Alagoas

| Campeonato Alagoano (1927)

| CEA / FAD / FAF

| Campeonato Alagoano (unknown)

| FAF

| Amapá

| Campeonato Amapaense (1944)

| FAD / FDA / FAF

| Campeonato Amapaense (1991)

| FAF

| Amazonas

| Campeonato Amazonense (1914)

| LAF / LASA / FADA / FAF

| Campeonato Amazonense (1965)

| FAF

| Bahia

| Campeonato Baiano (1905)

| LBST, LBDT, FBDT

| Campeonato Baiano (unknown)

| FBDT / FBF

| Ceará

| Campeonato Cearense (1915)

| LMC or ADC

| Campeonato Cearense (1939)

| FCD / FCF

| Distrito Federal

| Campeonato Brasiliense (1959)

| FDB / FMF

| Campeonato Brasiliense (1976)

| FMF / FBF / FFDF

| Espírito Santo

| Taça Cidade de Vitória (1917)

| LSE / FDE

| Campeonato Capixaba (mid-1930s)

| FDE / FES

| Goiás

| Campeonato Goiano (1944)

| FGF

| Campeonato Goiano (1962)

| FGF

| Maranhão

| Campeonato Maranhense (1918)

| LMS / AMEA / FMD / FMF

| Campeonato Maranhense (unknown)

| FMF

| Mato Grosso

| Campeonato Mato-Grossense (1936)

| FMD / FMF

| Campeonato Mato-Grossense (1967)

| FMD / FMF

| Mato Grosso do Sul

| colspan="2" style="text-align:center" | none

| Campeonato Sul-Mato-Grossense (1979)

| FFMS

| Minas Gerais

| Campeonato de Belo Horizonte (1915)

| LMSA / LMDT, AMET or AMEG

| Campeonato Mineiro (1933)

| AME / FAMAF / FMF

| Campeonato Paraense (1945)

| FPD / FPF

| Paraíba

| Campeonato Paraibano (1908)

| LPF or LDP / FDP / FPF

| Campeonato Paraibano (1960)

| FPF

| Paraná

| Campeonato Paranaense (1915)

| LSP, APSA or FPD / LCF / FPF

| Campeonato Paranaense (unknown)

| FPF

| Pernambuco

| Campeonato Pernambucano (1915)

| LSP / LPDT / FPD

| Campeonato Pernambucano (1937)

| FPD / FPF

| Piauí

| Campeonato Piauiense (1916)

| DPET / LST / LPSA / LPST / LTET (Teresina), LSP / LPET (Parnaíba) or FPF

| Campeonato Piauiense (1963)

| FFP

| Rio de Janeiro

| Campeonato Metropolitano (1906)

| LMF, AFRJ, LMSA / LMDT or AMEA

| Campeonato Carioca (1933)

| LCF, FMD, LFRJ / FMF / FCF or FERJ

| Campeonato Potiguar (1950)

| FND / FNF

| Rio Grande do Sul

| Campeonato Gaúcho (1919)

| FRGD

| Campeonato Gaúcho (1940)

| FRGF / FGF

| Rondônia

|Campeonato Rondoniense (1945)

| FDG / FDR

| Campeonato Rondoniense (1991)

| FFER

| Roraima

| Campeonato Roraimense (1946)

| FRD

| Campeonato Roraimense (1995)

| FRF

| Santa Catarina

| Campeonato Catarinense (1924)

| LSCDT

| Campeonato Catarinense (unknown)

| FCF

| São Paulo

| Campeonato Paulista (1902)

| LPF, APEA, LAF or FPF

| Campeonato Paulista (1933)

| APEA, LPF or LFESP / FPF

| Campeonato Sergipano (1960)

| FSF

| Tocantins

| Copa Tocantins (1989)

| FTF

| Campeonato Tocantinense (1993)

| FTF

Unrelegated football clubs

{| class="wikitable"

!width=175px|Championship

!width=460px|Unrelegated teams (min. 10 years)

!width=460px|Continuously in state league for 75 years or more

|Acreano

|Rio Branco (1919–1921, 1928, 1930, 1935–)

|Rio Branco (1935–)

|Alagoano

|CRB (1927–) ASA (1953–)

|CSA (1927–2003)

|Amazonense

|Nacional (1914–) Princesa do Solimões (1987–1991, 1995–1998, 2001–2002, 2004–)

|Nacional (1914–) Fast Clube (1932–2023)

|Baiano

|Bahia (1931–) Vitória (1920–1929, 1932–1936, 1938–)

|Bahia (1931–) Vitória (1938–)

|Brasiliense

| Gama (1976–) Brasiliense (2001–)

|Capixaba

|Real Noroeste (2012–)

|Carioca

|Botafogo (1906–) Fluminense (1906–) Flamengo (1912–) Vasco da Gama (1921–)

|Botafogo (1906–) Fluminense (1906–) Flamengo (1912–) Vasco da Gama (1921–) America (1908–2008) Bangu (1915–2004)

|Cearense

|Ceará (1915–) Fortaleza (1918–)

|Gaúcho

|Grêmio (1919–1926, 1930–1933, 1935, 1946, 1949, 1956–) Juventude (1925, 1940, 1961–1971, 1976–) Internacional (1927, 1934, 1936, 1940–1945, 1947–1948, 1950–1953, 1955, 1961–)

|Goiano

|Goiás (1944–)

|Maranhense

|Sampaio Corrêa (1926–)

|Mato-Grossense

|Luverdense (2004–)

|Mineiro

|Atlético Mineiro (1915–1923, 1925–) Cruzeiro (1921–1925, 1927–)

|Atlético Mineiro (1925–) Cruzeiro (1927–) América (1915–2007)

|Paraense

|Paysandu Remo

|Paraibano

|Botafogo (1934–) Campinense Treze Sousa (1992–)

|Botafogo (1934–)

|Paranaense

|Coritiba (1915–) Atlético Paranaense (1924–)

|Paulista

|Corinthians (1913–1914, 1916–) Santos (1913, 1916–2001, 2003–) Palmeiras (1916–) São Paulo (1930–1934, 1936–)

|Corinthians (1916–) Palmeiras (1916–) São Paulo (1936–) Santos (1916–2001)

|Pernambucano

|Santa Cruz (1915–) Náutico (1916–) Sport Recife (1916–)

|Santa Cruz (1915–) Náutico (1916–) Sport Recife (1916–) América (1915–1995)

|Piauiense

|Potiguar

|ABC (1919–1951, 1953–)

|Roraimense

|Sergipano

|Confiança Sergipe

|Tocantinense

|Tocantinópolis (1993–)

Notes

Some clubs were licensed, but due to the absence of lower divisions, they were never relegated.
Some clubs like Vasco da Gama have disputed the second level before being promoted for the first time.
Some state leagues do not have enough data to determine the consecutive sequence of club participations.
Until the 50s, the Campeonato Gaúcho brought together the champions of each region of Rio Grande do Sul. Grêmio and Internacional disputed the Municipal Championship of Porto Alegre before to decide who would advance to the final stage.
Due to the 2002 Torneio Rio-São Paulo, Corinthians, Palmeiras, Santos and São Paulo did not compete in the regular edition of Campeonato Paulista. After the end of Rio-São Paulo, Corinthians, São Paulo and Palmeiras qualified, alongside Ituano to the dispute of the Supercampeonato Paulista. Santos, since it did not qualify for the Supercampeonato Paulista, had its series of participations interrupted.
As the Campeonato Roraima does not have a second level, in practice no club has been relegated yet, however Atlético Roraima is the only team that has played in all editions of the professional era.

Source: RSSSF Brasil

State football leagues in Brazil

Overview

List of state football leagues in Brazil

From amateurism to professionalism

Unrelegated football clubs

Notes

See also

References