The traditional junior competition is contested by teams from all over the country.
It’s already a tradition! The new year has started, and with it comes the Copa São Paulo de Futebol Júnior, the biggest youth football tournament in Brazil. Organized by the São Paulo Football Federation, the competition has existed since 1969 and features teams from all over the country. Find the top football updates at live football score brazil.
The Copinha has a regulation that is published every season, but generally, the tournament allows players who are at least 15 years old and no older than 20. Since 2021, the São Paulo Football Federation has allowed the registration of up to three players who turn 21 during the year of the edition.
The tournament features 128 teams divided into 32 groups, each with four clubs. The top two teams from each group advance to the knockout stage, which includes the second round, third round, round of 16, quarterfinals, semifinals, and the grand final. This is the best opportunity for young players who dream of becoming professionals, as many smaller clubs without prominence in the top divisions participate in the Copinha.
A good performance in the tournament can lead to great opportunities for the young players. Endrick, for example, at just 15 years old and already with Palmeiras, was named the star of 2022 and led the team to victory. Other names that have made it to professional football also stand out, such as Pedrinho, Estêvão, Paulo Henrique Ganso, and Felipe Vizeu.
The biggest champion by far in the competition is Corinthians, who has lifted the trophy 11 times. Far behind is Fluminense, which has one of the strongest youth divisions in the country in Xerém, with five titles. The same number of trophies as Internacional, which completes the podium.
The Copinha, which started last Thursday, January 2, runs until January 25, the anniversary of the city of São Paulo, when the Pacaembu Stadium will host the grand final of the tournament again after five years. Stay ahead with BB Score.
