Vasco da Gama won the Brazilian U-20 Championship for the first time, completing a comeback in the final against Palmeiras to close out a season the CBF described as a record-setting year for youth football in Brazil.
According to Yahoo Sports, the CBF organized more than 700 youth competition matches across all categories in 2026, a figure the organization called a historic record. Julio Avellar, the CBF's Director of Competitions, credited shared management within the organization for making the expansion possible.
"We started a youth calendar with more than 700 matches. It's a historic record for the CBF. It is the result of shared management, with president Samir [Xaud] giving a lot of support to all departments to innovate. So we're on a very good path," Avellar said.
The U-20 Championship alone featured 204 matches this season, six more than in 2025. The tournament also introduced a format change in the knockout rounds, adding second-leg matches to both the quarterfinals and semifinals. Avellar said the new structure made the final stretch more competitive.
"A competition with 204 matches this year, six more than the previous year, with second-leg quarterfinals and semifinals. Two teams where the title could have gone to either one, both with great campaigns," he said.
The final between Vasco and Palmeiras reflected that balance. Vasco lost the first leg 1-0 at São Januário. In the second leg at Nubank Parque, they won 2-0 to reverse the result and claim the title. It was the club's first U-20 championship.
Beyond the competition calendar, the CBF has launched a broader structural effort around youth football. A working group called the Youth Categories Working Group was created this year. It brings together clubs, federations, specialists, former players, and CBF representatives to examine issues including the calendar structure, models for youth development clubs, agent regulation, and the development of women's youth football.
Avellar said the group is developing new proposals but declined to specify what changes might follow. "Everyone works toward strong youth football. We are now working in the youth GT, with more innovations, more new developments that should be coming," he said.
He closed with a direct signal that the expansion is not finished. "That's it. Stay tuned, because next year there will be more," Avellar said.
