# 2021 in Brazilian football

The following article presents a summary of the 2021 football (soccer) season in Brazil, which was the 120th season of competitive football in the country.

## Campeonato Brasileiro Série A

The 2021 Campeonato Brasileiro Série A started on 29 May 2021 and ended on 9 December 2021.
* América Mineiro
* Athletico Paranaense
* Atlético Goianiense
* Atlético Mineiro
* Bahia
* Ceará
* Chapecoense
* Corinthians
* Cuiabá
* Flamengo
* Fluminense
* Fortaleza
* Grêmio
* Internacional
* Juventude
* Palmeiras
* Red Bull Bragantino
* Santos
* São Paulo
* Sport
| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
| 1 | Atlético Mineiro (C) | 38 | 26 | 6 | 6 | 67 | 34 | +33 | 84 | Qualification for Copa Libertadores group stage |
| 2 | Flamengo | 38 | 21 | 8 | 9 | 69 | 36 | +33 | 71 | Qualification for Copa Libertadores group stage |
| 3 | Palmeiras | 38 | 20 | 6 | 12 | 58 | 43 | +15 | 66 | Qualification for Copa Libertadores group stage |
| 4 | Fortaleza | 38 | 17 | 7 | 14 | 44 | 45 | −1 | 58 | Qualification for Copa Libertadores group stage |
| 5 | Corinthians | 38 | 15 | 12 | 11 | 40 | 36 | +4 | 57 | Qualification for Copa Libertadores group stage |
| 6 | Red Bull Bragantino | 38 | 14 | 14 | 10 | 55 | 46 | +9 | 56 | Qualification for Copa Libertadores group stage |
| 7 | Fluminense | 38 | 15 | 9 | 14 | 38 | 38 | 0 | 54 | Qualification for Copa Libertadores second stage |
| 8 | América Mineiro | 38 | 13 | 14 | 11 | 41 | 37 | +4 | 53 | Qualification for Copa Libertadores second stage |
| 9 | Atlético Goianiense | 38 | 13 | 14 | 11 | 33 | 36 | −3 | 53 | Qualification for Copa Sudamericana group stage |
| 10 | Santos | 38 | 12 | 14 | 12 | 35 | 40 | −5 | 50 | Qualification for Copa Sudamericana group stage |
| 11 | Ceará | 38 | 11 | 17 | 10 | 39 | 38 | +1 | 50 | Qualification for Copa Sudamericana group stage |
| 12 | Internacional | 38 | 12 | 12 | 14 | 44 | 42 | +2 | 48 | Qualification for Copa Sudamericana group stage |
| 13 | São Paulo | 38 | 11 | 15 | 12 | 31 | 39 | −8 | 48 | Qualification for Copa Sudamericana group stage |
| 14 | Athletico Paranaense | 38 | 13 | 8 | 17 | 41 | 45 | −4 | 47 | Qualification for Copa Libertadores group stage |
| 15 | Cuiabá | 38 | 10 | 17 | 11 | 34 | 37 | −3 | 47 | Qualification for Copa Sudamericana group stage |
| 16 | Juventude | 38 | 11 | 13 | 14 | 36 | 44 | −8 | 46 | |
| 17 | Grêmio (R) | 38 | 12 | 7 | 19 | 44 | 51 | −7 | 43 | Relegation to Campeonato Brasileiro Série B |
| 18 | Bahia (R) | 38 | 11 | 10 | 17 | 42 | 51 | −9 | 43 | Relegation to Campeonato Brasileiro Série B |
| 19 | Sport (R) | 38 | 9 | 11 | 18 | 24 | 37 | −13 | 38 | Relegation to Campeonato Brasileiro Série B |
| 20 | Chapecoense (R) | 38 | 1 | 12 | 25 | 27 | 67 | −40 | 15 | Relegation to Campeonato Brasileiro Série B |
* ↑ Palmeiras qualified for the Copa Libertadores group stage by winning the 2021 Copa Libertadores.
* ↑ Athletico Paranaense qualified for the Copa Libertadores group stage by winning the 2021 Copa Sudamericana.
Atlético Mineiro won the league.

### Relegation

The four worst placed teams, Grêmio, Bahia, Sport and Chapecoense, were relegated to the following year's second level.

## Campeonato Brasileiro Série B

The 2021 Campeonato Brasileiro Série B started on 28 May 2021 and ended on 28 November 2021.
* Avaí
* Botafogo
* Brasil de Pelotas
* Brusque
* Confiança
* Coritiba
* CRB
* Cruzeiro
* CSA
* Goiás
* Guarani
* Londrina
* Náutico
* Operário Ferroviário
* Ponte Preta
* Remo
* Sampaio Corrêa
* Vasco da Gama
* Vila Nova
* Vitória
| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion or relegation |
| 1 | Botafogo (C, P) | 38 | 20 | 10 | 8 | 56 | 31 | +25 | 70 | Promotion to 2022 Campeonato Brasileiro Série A |
| 2 | Goiás (P) | 38 | 17 | 14 | 7 | 48 | 31 | +17 | 65 | Promotion to 2022 Campeonato Brasileiro Série A |
| 3 | Coritiba (P) | 38 | 18 | 10 | 10 | 49 | 35 | +14 | 64 | Promotion to 2022 Campeonato Brasileiro Série A |
| 4 | Avaí (P) | 38 | 18 | 10 | 10 | 44 | 35 | +9 | 64 | Promotion to 2022 Campeonato Brasileiro Série A |
| 5 | CSA | 38 | 18 | 8 | 12 | 48 | 33 | +15 | 62 | |
| 6 | Guarani | 38 | 16 | 12 | 10 | 54 | 41 | +13 | 60 | |
| 7 | CRB | 38 | 16 | 12 | 10 | 47 | 39 | +8 | 60 | |
| 8 | Náutico | 38 | 14 | 11 | 13 | 50 | 50 | 0 | 53 | |
| 9 | Vila Nova | 38 | 12 | 15 | 11 | 35 | 36 | −1 | 51 | |
| 10 | Vasco da Gama | 38 | 13 | 10 | 15 | 43 | 52 | −9 | 49 | |
| 11 | Ponte Preta | 38 | 12 | 13 | 13 | 39 | 40 | −1 | 49 | |
| 12 | Operário Ferroviário | 38 | 13 | 9 | 16 | 35 | 46 | −11 | 48 | |
| 13 | Brusque | 38 | 13 | 9 | 16 | 44 | 56 | −12 | 48 | |
| 14 | Cruzeiro | 38 | 10 | 18 | 10 | 42 | 44 | −2 | 48 | |
| 15 | Sampaio Corrêa | 38 | 12 | 11 | 15 | 41 | 42 | −1 | 47 | |
| 16 | Londrina | 38 | 11 | 11 | 16 | 31 | 41 | −10 | 44 | |
| 17 | Remo (R) | 38 | 11 | 10 | 17 | 31 | 42 | −11 | 43 | Relegation to 2022 Campeonato Brasileiro Série C |
| 18 | Vitória (R) | 38 | 8 | 16 | 14 | 31 | 32 | −1 | 40 | Relegation to 2022 Campeonato Brasileiro Série C |
| 19 | Confiança (R) | 38 | 9 | 10 | 19 | 35 | 48 | −13 | 37 | Relegation to 2022 Campeonato Brasileiro Série C |
| 20 | Brasil de Pelotas (R) | 38 | 4 | 11 | 23 | 23 | 52 | −29 | 23 | Relegation to 2022 Campeonato Brasileiro Série C |
Botafogo won the league.

### Promotion

The four best placed teams, Botafogo, Coritiba, Goiás and Avaí, were promoted to the following year's first level.

### Relegation

The four worst placed teams, Remo, Vitória, Confiança and Brasil de Pelotas, were relegated to the following year's third level.

## Campeonato Brasileiro Série C

The 2021 Campeonato Brasileiro Série C started on 29 May 2021 and ended on 20 November 2021.
* Altos
* Botafogo (PB)
* Botafogo (SP)
* Criciúma
* Ferroviário
* Figueirense
* Floresta
* Ituano
* Jacuipense
* Manaus
* Mirassol
* Novorizontino
* Oeste
* Paraná
* Paysandu
* Santa Cruz
* São José (RS)
* Tombense
* Volta Redonda
* Ypiranga
The Campeonato Brasileiro Série C final was played between Ituano and Tombense.
Ituano won the league after beating Tombense.

### Promotion

The four best placed teams, Tombense, Ituano, Criciúma and Novorizontino, were promoted to the following year's second level.

### Relegation

The four worst placed teams, Jacuipense, Paraná, Santa Cruz and Oeste, were relegated to the following year's fourth level.

## Campeonato Brasileiro Série D

The 2021 Campeonato Brasileiro Série D started on 26 May 2021 and ended on 13 November 2021.
* 4 de Julho
* ABC
* Águia Negra
* Aimoré
* América de Natal
* Aparecidense
* Aquidauanense
* ASA
* Atlético Acreano
* Atlético Cearense
* Atlético de Alagoinhas
* Bahia de Feira
* Bangu
* Boa Esporte
* Boavista
* Brasiliense
* Caldense
* Campinense
* FC Cascavel
* Castanhal
* Caucaia
* Caxias
* Central
* Cianorte
* Esportivo
* Fast Clube
* Ferroviária
* Galvez
* Gama
* GAS
* Goianésia
* Guarany de Sobral
* Imperatriz
* Inter de Limeira
* Itabaiana
* Jaraguá
* Joinville
* Juazeirense
* Juventude Samas
* Juventus
* Madureira
* Marcílio Dias
* Moto Club
* Murici
* Nova Mutum
* Palmas
* Paragominas
* Patrocinense
* Penarol
* Picos
* Porto Velho
* Portuguesa (SP)
* Real Ariquemes
* Retrô
* Rio Branco (ES)
* Rio Branco (PR)
* Rio Branco de Venda Nova
* Santana
* Santo André
* São Bento
* São Raimundo (RR)
* Sergipe
* Sousa
* Tocantinópolis
* Treze
* Uberlândia
* União Rondonópolis
* Ypiranga (AP)
Salgueiro declined to participate in the Série D. They were replaced by Central.
The Campeonato Brasileiro Série D final was played between Aparecidense and Campinense.
Aparecidense won the league after defeating Campinense.

### Promotion

The four best placed teams, Aparecidense, Campinense, ABC and Atlético Cearense, were promoted to the following year's third level.

## Super cup
### Supercopa do Brasil

The 2021 Supercopa do Brasil was played on 11 April 2021 between Flamengo and Palmeiras.
Flamengo won the super cup after defeating Palmeiras.

## Domestic cups
### Copa do Brasil

The 2021 Copa do Brasil started on 9 March 2021 and ended on 15 December 2021. The Copa do Brasil final was played between Athletico Paranaense and Atlético Mineiro.
Atlético Mineiro won the cup after defeating Athletico Paranaense.

### Copa do Nordeste

The competition featured 16 clubs from the Northeastern region. It started on 27 February 2021 and ended on 8 May 2021. The Copa do Nordeste final was played between Bahia and Ceará.
Bahia won the cup after defeating Ceará.

### Copa Verde

The competition featured 24 clubs from the North and Central-West regions, including two teams from Espírito Santo. It started on 13 October 2021 and ended on 11 December 2021. The Copa Verde final was played between Vila Nova and Remo.
Remo won the cup after defeating Vila Nova.

## State championship champions

| State | Champions |
| Acre | Rio Branco |
| Alagoas | CSA |
| Amapá | Trem |
| Amazonas | Manaus |
| Bahia | Atlético de Alagoinhas |
| Ceará | Fortaleza |
| Distrito Federal | Brasiliense |
| Espírito Santo | Real Noroeste |
| Goiás | Grêmio Anápolis |
| Maranhão | Sampaio Corrêa |
| Mato Grosso | Cuiabá |
| Mato Grosso do Sul | Costa Rica |
| Minas Gerais | Atlético Mineiro |
| Pará | Paysandu |
| Paraíba | Campinense |
| Paraná | Londrina |
| Pernambuco | Náutico |
| Piauí | Altos |
| Rio de Janeiro | Flamengo |
| Rio Grande do Norte | Globo |
| Rio Grande do Sul | Grêmio |
| Rondônia | Porto Velho |
| Roraima | São Raimundo |
| Santa Catarina | Avaí |
| São Paulo | São Paulo |
| Sergipe | Sergipe |
| Tocantins | Tocantinópolis |

## State cup competition champions

| Competition | Champions |
| Copa Alagoas | ASA |
| Copa Espírito Santo | Nova Venécia |
| Copa Fares Lopes | Icasa |
| Copa FGF | Glória |
| Copa FMF (MA) | Tuntum |
| Copa FMF (MT) | União Rondonópolis |
| Copa Paulista | São Bernardo |
| Copa Rio | Pérolas Negras |
| Copa Santa Catarina | Figueirense |

## Youth competition champions

| Competition | Champions |
| Campeonato Brasileiro de Aspirantes | Grêmio |
| Campeonato Brasileiro Sub-20 | Internacional |
| Copa do Brasil Sub-20 | Coritiba |
| Supercopa do Brasil Sub-20 | Internacional |
| Campeonato Brasileiro Sub-17 | Flamengo |
| Copa do Brasil Sub-17 | Flamengo |
| Supercopa do Brasil Sub-17 | Flamengo |
| Copa RS de Futebol Sub-20 | Cancelled |
| Copa Santiago de Futebol Juvenil | Cancelled |
| Copa São Paulo de Futebol Júnior | Cancelled |
The Copa Nacional do Espírito Santo Sub-17, between 2008 and 2012, was named Copa Brasil Sub-17. The similar named Copa do Brasil Sub-17 is organized by the Brazilian Football Confederation and it was first played in 2013.

## Brazilian clubs in international competitions

| Team | 2021 Copa Libertadores | 2021 Copa Sudamericana | 2021 Recopa Sudamericana | 2021 FIFA Club World Cup |
| Athletico Paranaense | N/A | Champions defeated Red Bull Bragantino | N/A | N/A |
| Atlético Goianiense | N/A | Eliminated in the Group Stage | N/A | N/A |
| Atlético Mineiro | Semi-finals eliminated by Palmeiras | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Bahia | N/A | Eliminated in the Group Stage | N/A | N/A |
| Ceará | N/A | Eliminated in the Group Stage | N/A | N/A |
| Corinthians | N/A | Eliminated in the Group Stage | N/A | N/A |
| Flamengo | Runners-up lost to Palmeiras | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Fluminense | Quarter-finals eliminated by Barcelona | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Grêmio | Third Stage eliminated by Independiente del Valle | Round of 16 eliminated by LDU Quito | N/A | N/A |
| Internacional | Round of 16 eliminated by Olimpia | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Palmeiras | Champions defeated Flamengo | N/A | Runners-up lost to Defensa y Justicia | Runners-up lost to Chelsea |
| Red Bull Bragantino | N/A | Runners-up lost to Athletico Paranaense | N/A | N/A |
| Santos | Eliminated in the Group Stage | Quarter-finals eliminated by Libertad | N/A | N/A |
| São Paulo | Quarter-finals eliminated by Palmeiras | N/A | N/A | N/A |

## National team

The following table lists all the games played by the Brazilian national team in official competitions and friendly matches during 2021.

### FIFA World Cup qualification

    1.^ The match was suspended after Anvisa stopped it after 5 minutes at 0–0 accusing four Argentine players of violating the COVID quarantine rules. On 14 February 2022, FIFA annulled the match being initially rescheduled to September 2022 at a location to be defined by the CBF. Finally the match was cancelled by FIFA on 16 August 2022.

### Copa América

| Competition | Performance |
| Copa América | Runners-up |

## Women's football
### Campeonato Brasileiro de Futebol Feminino Série A1

The 2021 Campeonato Brasileiro de Futebol Feminino Série A1 started on 17 April 2021 and ended on 26 September 2021.
* Bahia
* Botafogo
* Corinthians
* Cruzeiro
* Ferroviária
* Flamengo/Marinha
* Grêmio
* Internacional
* Kindermann/Avaí
* Minas/ICESP
* Napoli
* Palmeiras
* Real Brasília
* Santos
* São José
* São Paulo
The Campeonato Brasileiro de Futebol Feminino Série A1 final was played between Corinthians and Palmeiras.
Corinthians won the league after defeating Palmeiras.

#### Relegation

The four worst placed teams, Botafogo, Minas/ICESP, Napoli and Bahia, were relegated to the following year's second level.

### Campeonato Brasileiro de Futebol Feminino Série A2

The 2021 Campeonato Brasileiro de Futebol Feminino Série A2 started on 15 May 2021 and ended on 7 September 2021.
* Aliança
* América de Natal
* América Mineiro
* Assermurb
* Athletico Paranaense
* Atlético Goianiense
* Atlético Mineiro
* Botafogo (PB)
* Brasil de Farroupilha
* Ceará
* CEFAMA
* Chapecoense
* CRESSPOM
* Criciúma
* ESMAC
* Fluminense
* Fortaleza
* Iranduba
* JC
* Juventude (BA)
* Mixto
* Náutico
* Oratório
* Paraíso
* Ponte Preta
* Real Ariquemes
* Red Bull Bragantino
* Santos Dumont
* São Raimundo (RR)
* SERC/UCDB
* Sport
* Tiradentes
* UDA
* Vasco da Gama
* Vila Nova (ES)
* Vitória
Audax declined to participate in the Série A2. They were replaced by Atlético Goianiense. Complying with the guidelines of the CBF, the federations that did not held a women's state league in the 2020 season awarded their 2021 Serie A2 berths to the best placed teams in the 2019 state league not already qualified. Therefore, UDA (Alagoas), Juventude (Bahia), Vila Nova (Espírito Santo), Tiradentes (Piauí), Criciúma (Santa Catarina) and Santos Dumont (Sergipe) qualified for the Série A2. Goiás (2019 Campeonato Goiano champions) declined to participate in the Série A2. They were replaced by Aliança. Although Atlético Acreano won the 2019 Campeonato Acreano, the Federação de Futebol do Acre awarded the berth to the runners-up Assermurb.
The Campeonato Brasileiro de Futebol Feminino Série A2 final was played between Red Bull Bragantino and Atlético Mineiro.
Red Bull Bragantino won the league after defeating Atlético Mineiro.

#### Promotion

The four best placed teams, Red Bull Bragantino, Atlético Mineiro, ESMAC and CRESSPOM, were promoted to the following year's first level.

### Domestic competition champions

| State | Champions |
| Acre | Rio Branco |
| Alagoas | CRB |
| Amapá | Ypiranga |
| Amazonas | 3B da Amazônia |
| Bahia | Bahia |
| Ceará | Ceará |
| Distrito Federal | Real Brasília |
| Espírito Santo | Vila Nova |
| Goiás | Vila Nova/UNIVERSO |
| Maranhão | Cancelled |
| Mato Grosso | Mixto |
| Mato Grosso do Sul | Operário |
| Minas Gerais | Atlético Mineiro |
| Pará | Remo |
| Paraíba | VF4 |
| Paraná | Athletico Paranaense |
| Pernambuco | Náutico |
| Piauí | Teresina |
| Rio de Janeiro | Flamengo/Marinha |
| Rio Grande do Norte | União |
| Rio Grande do Sul | Internacional |
| Rondônia | Real Ariquemes |
| Roraima | São Raimundo |
| Santa Catarina | Kindermann/Avaí |
| São Paulo | Corinthians |
| Sergipe | Estanciano |
| Tocantins | Paraíso |

### State cup competition champions

| Competition | Champions |
| Copa Paulista de Futebol Feminino | Palmeiras |

### Youth competition champions

| Competition | Champions |
| Campeonato Brasileiro de Futebol Feminino Sub-18 | São Paulo |
| Campeonato Brasileiro de Futebol Feminino Sub-16 | Corinthians |

### Brazilian clubs in international competitions

| Team | 2021 Copa Libertadores Femenina |
| Corinthians | Champions defeated Santa Fe |
| Ferroviária | Third place defeated Nacional |
| Kindermann/Avaí | Quarter-finals eliminated by Santa Fe |

### National team

The following table lists all the games played by the Brazil women's national football team in official competitions and friendly matches during 2021.
The Brazil women's national football team competed in the following competitions in 2021:

#### 2021 International Women's Football Tournament

| Competition | Performance |
| SheBelieves Cup | Runners-up |
| Summer Olympics | Quarter-finals eliminated by Canada |
| International Women's Football Tournament | Champions |