Football league
 | |
| Founded | 1981; 43 years ago (1981) |
|---|---|
| Country | Brazil |
| Number of clubs | 20 |
| Level on pyramid | 3 |
| Promotion to | Série B |
| Relegation to | Série D |
| Current champions | Volta Redonda (1st title) (2024) |
| Most championships | Vila Nova (3 titles) |
| TV partners | DAZN Nosso Futebol |
| Website | Official website |
| Current: 2024 Campeonato Brasileiro Série C | |
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.
Unlike the first and second divisions, the Série C is not played in a double round robin system, arguably because many participating teams lack the financial conditions to travel long distances. Thus, the tournament is organized in regional groups and the table prevents teams from distant states from playing each other in the initial rounds.
Beginning in 2009, the Série C was reduced from 64 teams to 20 and the new Campeonato Brasileiro Série D is the qualifier for Brazilian league football. In its current format the first phase was then played in a single round, with 19 matches. The top eight teams qualify for a knock out stage and the four semi-finalists are promoted to the Campeonato Brasileiro Série B. The four lowest-placed teams are relegated to the Campeonato Brasileiro Série D.
Format history
Until 2008, any professional team could apply, but only 64 teams would take part in the tournament. The teams that had been relegated from the Série B in the previous year were joined by teams qualified for each federation state. Qualification rules varied, some federations used the state tournaments as qualification tournaments, others organized exclusive qualification tournaments to the Série C.
From 2009 onwards, the qualifiers were played in four groups of five teams each. 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, increasing the number of dates. 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.
2024 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). The following table shows the winners and runners-up of the Série C tournaments played from 1981, according to the Brazilian Football Confederation:
- Currently named Manchete.
- Currently named Paulista.
- Currently named Boa Esporte.
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:
| 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 | ||
| 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
|
10 |
| 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 2025 season
Below is the list of clubs that have more appearances in the Campeonato Brasileiro Série C.
| Club | App | First | Last |
|---|---|---|---|
| Confiança | 24 | 1988 | 2025 |
| Botafogo (PB) | 22 | 1988 | 2025 |
| Caxias | 18 | 1990 | 2025 |
| Ferroviário | 17 | 1988 | 2024 |
| Volta Redonda | 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 |
| Fortaleza | 14 | 1990 | 2017 |
| ASA | 13 | 1992 | 2017 |
| Figueirense | 13 | 1981 | 2025 |
| Madureira | 13 | 1981 | 2015 |
| Paysandu | 13 | 1990 | 2023 |
| Sampaio Corrêa | 13 | 1992 | 2024 |
| Atlético Goianiense | 12 | 1990 | 2008 |
| Rio Branco (SP) | 12 | 1994 | 2006 |
Clubs promoted from Série C
- Olaria lost the right to compete in the 1982 Taça de Prata after being relegated in the Campeonato Carioca.
- Teams promoted after América de Rio Preto, Bangu, Barra do Garças, Ferroviária and Novorizontino withdrew from Série B.
- Promoted after Malutron withdrew from Série B.
Clubs relegated from Série C
| 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, 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) |
- Expelled by the sports court. CRAC is spared from relegation.
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
References
- "Brazil 2nd Level 1989 Divisão Especial". Rssf.
- ^ "Campeões" (in Portuguese). CBF. Archived from the original on October 14, 2009. Retrieved October 29, 2009.
- Enciclopédia do Futebol Brasileiro Lance Volume 2. Rio de Janeiro: Aretê Editorial S/A. 2001. p. 387. ISBN 85-88651-01-7.
- "Brazil 2nd Level 1982". RSSSF. Retrieved May 25, 2023.
- "Com quedas inéditas, veja como ficou o ranking de rebaixamentos no futebol brasileiro". Atualiza Bahia (in Portuguese). December 10, 2019. Archived from the original on September 25, 2021. Retrieved May 25, 2023.
- "Malutron desiste de disputar Série B". Estadão (in Portuguese). July 20, 2002. Retrieved May 25, 2023.
- "CRAC ganha briga e fica com vaga do Betim na Série C". Estadão (in Portuguese). April 18, 2014. Retrieved May 25, 2023.
External links
- CBF - Brazilian Football Confederation
- RSSSF Brazil links
| Campeonato Brasileiro Série C | |
|---|---|
| 2025 clubs | |
| Seasons | |
