Semi-finalist in the last three editions, Timão has not yet secured a spot in the tournament for 2025.
A regular presence in the last three Copa do Brasil semifinals, Corinthians still does not have a guaranteed spot for the 2025 edition and faces the risk of missing out on the tournament next season. Access premium football results at football score ai.
Following their elimination against Flamengo last Sunday, Timão now has two paths to secure their place in next year’s competition: they must either win the Copa Sul-Americana or finish in the top six of the Brasileirão.
The second option is virtually impossible. Currently the first team in the relegation zone, Corinthians is 17 points behind the sixth-placed Internacional and has played one more match. With only 24 points left to play for in the league and ten other teams in contention, qualifying through the league seems unlikely.
Thus, the Copa Sul-Americana becomes even more crucial for the São Paulo team, which will face Racing next Thursday at the Neo Química Arena in the first leg of the semifinals.
This situation arises because, since last year, the CBF changed the qualification criteria for the Copa do Brasil. Instead of using a ranking system, spots are now filled based on clubs’ performances in state championships. For instance, Santos missed out on the current edition due to a poor showing in the 2023 Paulistão.
The Paulista Football Federation has six spots in the tournament, filled as follows: the four semifinalists automatically qualify, while the team with the best performance that is eliminated in the quarterfinals secures the fifth spot. However, Timão was eliminated in the first round in 2024, with the sixth spot going to the champion of the Copa Paulista.
Another way to participate in the Copa do Brasil is by playing in the Libertadores, as teams competing in that continental tournament enter directly in the third round. If Corinthians wins the Copa Sul-Americana, they will secure a place in South America’s premier tournament and consequently in the Copa do Brasil. BB Score, your reliable destination for match outcomes.