State football leagues in Brazil
Federal unit Championship 2019 Champion
Acre Campeonato Acriano Atlético Acreano
Alagoas Campeonato Alagoano CSA
Amapá Campeonato Amapaense Ypiranga
Amazonas Campeonato Amazonense Manaus
Bahia Campeonato Baiano Bahia
Ceará Campeonato Cearense Fortaleza
Distrito Federal Campeonato Brasiliense Gama
Espírito Santo Campeonato Capixaba Vitória
Goiás Campeonato Goiano Atlético Goianiense
Maranhão Campeonato Maranhense Imperatriz
Mato Grosso Campeonato Mato-Grossense Cuiabá
Mato Grosso do Sul Campeonato Sul-Mato-Grossense Águia Negra
Minas Gerais Campeonato Mineiro Cruzeiro
Pará Campeonato Paraense Remo
Paraíba Campeonato Paraibano Botafogo ( PB )
Paraná Campeonato Paranaense Atlético Paranaense
Pernambuco Campeonato Pernambucano Sport
Piauí Campeonato Piauiense Ríver
Rio de Janeiro Campeonato Carioca Flamengo
Rio Grande do Norte Campeonato Potiguar América de Natal
List of state football leagues in Brazil
For previous seasons champions , see Category : Seasons in Brazilian football . Acriano Amazonense Paraense Roraimense Amapaense Rondoniense Tocantinense Maranhense Baiano Piauiense Cearense Potiguar Paraibano Pernambucano Alagoano Sergipano Mato-Grossense Sul-Mato-Grossense Brasiliense Goiano Mineiro Paulista Carioca Capixaba Paranaense Catarinense Gaúcho
State football leagues in Brazil are football leagues competed in each of the 26 states of Brazil and in the Federal District. One such league, the Campeonato Paulista, which started in 1902, is the oldest football competition in Brazil. Due to their long tradition, they are highly regarded. Historically, because of economical or geographical issues, the long distances between important cities of the country made the Brazilian people develop a strong competitive culture within the states. So, each Brazilian state has its own state championship. As of 2009, most of the state championships start in January and conclude in early May (23 dates assigned to matches). Due to these competitions, some matches between rival clubs of the same state or city have a similar or bigger importance than an interstate match between two important clubs. These local matches are called clássicos (classics, or derbies). Some examples are Flamengo-Vasco in Rio de Janeiro; Corinthians-Palmeiras in São Paulo; Atlético Mineiro-Cruzeiro in Minas Gerais; Náutico-Sport in Pernambuco; Grêmio-Internacional in Rio Grande do Sul; Atlético Paranaense-Coritiba in Paraná; Bahia-Vitória in Bahia. The state champions and, in some states, the runners-up, are automatically qualified to play in the following year's Copa do Brasil. Also, the best placed clubs of each state which are not competing in the Campeonato Brasileiro Série A, Série B or Série C qualify to the same year's Série D. In addition, the best teams in each state league also may qualify to regional cups like the Copa do Nordeste and the Copa Verde.