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11h ago

Carioca 2026 Kicks Off as Flamengo Opens vs. Portuguesa Under New Shorter Format

The state championship returns in a condensed structure with performance-linked payouts to fit Brazil’s crowded 2026 calendar.

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Overview

  • Flamengo faces Portuguesa at 18:00 Brasília time in Volta Redonda in an opener advanced from the fifth round due to scheduling.
  • The match will air live on TV Globo and Premiere, with Flamengo listed as the home team away from the Maracanã.
  • Flamengo is fielding an under-20/alternate side led by Bruno Pivetti, reflecting the big clubs’ early-round rotation strategy.
  • The remodeled tournament splits clubs into two groups of six that cross, advances the top four of each to quarterfinals, and trims the slate to 10 dates.
  • FERJ reinstated performance-based prizes, awarding R$10 million to the champion and R$5 million to the runner-up, boosting incentives for smaller contenders such as Volta Redonda and Sampaio Corrêa.