São Paulo Youth Cup (Brazil) 2026/27

The **Copa São Paulo de Futebol Júnior**, widely called the "Copinha," is a prestigious under-20 football tournament organized by the Federação Paulista de Futebol (FPF). Founded in 1969 by journalist Fábio Lazzari to celebrate the city of São Paulo’s anniversary, the event transformed from an inaugural edition managed by the São Paulo City Hall into a major national showcase after the FPF assumed control in 1971. It stands as the most important youth competition in Brazil, distinguished by its high media visibility and function as a primary talent gateway for the sport.

The tournament gathers 128 teams from across all Brazilian states, occasionally welcoming international clubs as well. Its structure begins with a group stage comprising 32 groups of four teams, where sides play a single round-robin. The top two finishers from each group progress to a single-elimination knockout phase, which commences with the Round of 64. Every knockout match is decided in a single leg, with ties settled via penalty shootouts rather than extra time. The competition concludes with a final traditionally played on January 25 at either the Pacaembu Stadium or Allianz Parque in São Paulo.

Participation is strictly limited to players born in the year prior to the tournament, adhering to a rigid Under-20 age limit. Unlike the official national league or cup, which rely on qualification through state championships or national rankings, this event operates on an invitation-based selection system. This approach, combined with its condensed duration of approximately 15 days, positions the tournament as a unique cultural event rather than a points-based league.

Corinthians holds the record for the most titles, having secured the championship eleven times. The 2026 edition crowned Cruzeiro as the current champion after they defeated São Paulo 2–1 in the final. While the tournament has faced interruptions due to funding issues in 1987 and the pandemic in 2021, it remains a central fixture in Brazilian football culture.