The Brazilian football state championships are football

Football (soccer)

Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...

 competitions carried out in every state of Brazil

Brazil

Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...

. As the state championships are very old competitions (the oldest competition in Brazil is the Campeonato Paulista

Campeonato Paulista

The Campeonato Paulista de Futebol Profissional da Primeira Divisão - Série A1, simply known as the Campeonato Paulista, is the top-flight professional football league in the Brazilian state of São Paulo. The league is contested between 20 clubs and typically lasts from January to April...

, which started in 1902), they are very traditional, and are almost as important as the national leagues

Campeonato Brasileiro Série A

The Campeonato Brasileiro de Clubes da Série A , popularly known as the Brasileirão , is a professional football league at the top of the Brazilian football league system held annually since 1959. Contested by twenty clubs, it operates a system of promotion and relegation with the Série B...

.

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 Fla-Flu

Fla-Flu

Fla-Flu is a football matchup between cross-town rivals Flamengo and Fluminense. Matches take place in the 95,000-seat Maracanã Stadium, located near downtown Rio, in the city's Maracanã district...

, in Rio de Janeiro

Rio de Janeiro (state)

Rio de Janeiro is one of the 27 states of Brazil.Rio de Janeiro has the second largest economy of Brazil behind only São Paulo state.The state of Rio de Janeiro is located within the Brazilian geopolitical region classified as the Southeast...

, Corinthians

Sport Club Corinthians Paulista

Sport Club Corinthians Paulista, commonly just known as Corinthians , is a Brazilian football club based in the city of São Paulo. They play in the São Paulo state league, as well as the Brasileirão, Brazil's top national league...

-Palmeiras

Sociedade Esportiva Palmeiras

Sociedade Esportiva Palmeiras is a Brazilian football club from São Paulo. The club was founded on August 26, 1914, as Palestra Italia but changed to the current name on September 14, 1942...

 in São Paulo

São Paulo (state)

São Paulo is a state in Brazil. It is the major industrial and economic powerhouse of the Brazilian economy. Named after Saint Paul, São Paulo has the largest population, industrial complex, and economic production in the country. It is the richest state in Brazil...

, Atlético-Cruzeiro

Atlético and Cruzeiro football rivalry

Atlético–Cruzeiro football rivalry is the name of the biggest "clássico" in the city of Belo Horizonte and in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil...

 in Minas Gerais

Minas Gerais

Minas Gerais is one of the 26 states of Brazil, of which it is the second most populous, the third richest, and the fourth largest in area. Minas Gerais is the Brazilian state with the largest number of Presidents of Brazil, the current one, Dilma Rousseff, being one of them. The capital is the...

, Naútico

Clube Náutico Capibaribe

Clube Náutico Capibaribe, also known as Náutico, is a Brazilian sports club, including a professional football team, in Recife, Pernambuco....

-Sport

Sport Club do Recife

Sport Club do Recife, more popularly known as Sport in Recife or Sport Recife in Northeastern Brazil, is a football team from Recife, Pernambuco.-1905 - Foundation:...

 in Pernambuco

Pernambuco

Pernambuco is a state of Brazil, located in the Northeast region of the country. To the north are the states of Paraíba and Ceará, to the west is Piauí, to the south are Alagoas and Bahia, and to the east is the Atlantic Ocean. There are about of beaches, some of the most beautiful in the...

, Gre–Nal in Rio Grande do Sul

Rio Grande do Sul

Rio Grande do Sul is the southernmost state in Brazil, and the state with the fifth highest Human Development Index in the country. In this state is located the southernmost city in the country, Chuí, on the border with Uruguay. In the region of Bento Gonçalves and Caxias do Sul, the largest wine...

, Atle-Tiba, in Paraná

Paraná (state)

Paraná is one of the states of Brazil, located in the South of the country, bordered on the north by São Paulo state, on the east by the Atlantic Ocean, on the south by Santa Catarina state and the Misiones Province of Argentina, and on the west by Mato Grosso do Sul and the republic of Paraguay,...

 etc.

The state champions and, in some states, the runners-up, are automatically qualified to play following year's Copa do Brasil

Copa do Brasil

The Copa Kia do Brasil, commonly known as Copa do Brasil , is a knockout competition played by 64 association football teams, representing all 26 Brazilian states plus the Federal District...

. Also, the best placed clubs of each state which are not competing the Campeonato Brasileiro Série A

Campeonato Brasileiro Série A

The Campeonato Brasileiro de Clubes da Série A , popularly known as the Brasileirão , is a professional football league at the top of the Brazilian football league system held annually since 1959. Contested by twenty clubs, it operates a system of promotion and relegation with the Série B...

, Série B

Campeonato Brasileiro Série B

The Série B is the second division of Brazilian football. It is played by 20 teams. However, the competition format has changed almost every year since it first occurred, in 1971. In some years, it was not played altogether...

 or Série C

Campeonato Brasileiro Série C

The Campeonato Brasileiro Série C is the third division of Brazilian football.Unlike the first and second divisions, the Série C is not played in a double round robin system, arguably because many participating teams lack the financial conditions to travel long distances...

 qualify to the same year's Série D

Campeonato Brasileiro Série D

The Campeonato Brasileiro Série D is the fourth tier of the Brazilian football, and it was announced by Brazilian Football Confederation on April 9, 2008. Campeonato Brasileiro Série D was formed from the split of Série C, keeping its best 20 clubs and playing double round robin, like the top...

.

2011 state champions

• AC - Rio Branco
  Rio Branco Football Club
  Rio Branco Football Club, usually known simply as Rio Branco, is a Brazilian football club based in the city of Rio Branco in the Acre state of Brazil.-History:...
  
  
• AL
  Campeonato Alagoano
  The Campeonato Alagoano is the football league of the state of Alagoas, Brazil.-Format:First Division 2010The Campeonato Alagoano is divided into three stages....
  
   - ASA
  Agremiação Sportiva Arapiraquense
  Agremiação Sportiva Arapiraquense, usually known by the acronym ASA , sometimes called "ASA de Arapiraca", is a Brazilian football club from Arapiraca, Alagoas state.- History :...
  
  
• AM
  Campeonato Amazonense
  The Campeonato Amazonense is the football league of the state of Amazonas, Brazil.-Format:The Campeonato Amazonense is divided into Taça Amazonas and Taça Cidade de Manaus.Taça Amazonas...
  
   - Penarol
  Penarol Atlético Clube
  Penarol Atlético Clube, commonly known as Penarol, is a Brazilian football club based in Itacoatiara, Amazonas state. They will compete in the 2011 Série D.-History:...
  
  
• AP
  Campeonato Amapaense
  The Campeonato Amapaense is the football league of the state of Amapá, Brazil.-Format:First Stage*Standard round-robin, in which all teams play each other once.*Single leg playoff between the top 2 teams...
  
   - Trem
  Trem Desportivo Clube
  Trem Desportivo Clube, usually known as Trem Desportivo, or simply as Trem, is a Brazilian football club from Macapá, Amapá state.-History:...
  
  
• BA
  Campeonato Baiano
  The Campeonato Baiano is the football league of the state of Bahia, Brazil. The championship has been played since 1905 without interruption.-2008 format:First stage:...
  
   - Bahia de Feira
  Associação Desportiva Bahia de Feira
  Associação Desportiva Bahia de Feira, commonly known as Bahia de Feira, is a Brazilian football club based in Feira de Santana, Bahia state. They won the Campeonato Baiano once and competed once in the Série D.-History:...
  
  
• CE
  Campeonato Cearense
  The Campeonato Cearense is the football league of the state of Ceará, Brazil.-Format:The Cearense Championship has three divisions with the following division and format :First DivisionThe ten clubs play two legs...
  
   - Ceará
  Ceará Sporting Club
  Ceará Sporting Club, or Ceará as they are usually called, is a Brazilian football team from Fortaleza in Ceará, founded on June 2, 1914....
  
  
• DF
  Campeonato Brasiliense
  The Campeonato Brasiliense, also known as Campeonato Metropolitano de Brasília or Campeonato Candango, is the football league of the Distrito Federal, Brazil....
  
   - Brasiliense
  Brasiliense Futebol Clube
  The Brasiliense Futebol Clube is a Brazilian football club, based in Taguatinga, Distrito Federal.Brasiliense wears yellow uniforms, hence one of its supporters' associations is named Febre Amarela...
  
  
• ES
  Campeonato Capixaba
  The Campeonato Capixaba is the football league of the Brazilian state of Espírito Santo.-History:From 1917 to 1929, it was disputed the Campeonato da Cidade de Vitória , a competition contested only by Vitória city clubs...
  
   - São Mateus
  Centro Educativo Recreativo Associação Atlética São Mateus
  Centro Educativo Recreativo Associação Atlética São Mateus, commonly known as São Mateus, is a Brazilian football club based in São Mateus, Espírito Santo state. They competed in the Copa do Brasil and in the Série C once.-History:...
  
  
• GO
  Campeonato Goiano
  The Campeonato Goiano is the football league of the state of Goiás, Brazil.-Format:First DivisionFirst stage*Teams are divided in two groups of six teams....
  
   - Atlético Goianiense
  Atlético Clube Goianiense
  Atlético Clube Goianiense, usually known as Atlético Goianiense or just Atlético, is a Brazilian football team from the city of Goiânia, Goiás state. Atlético Goianiense is the oldest Goiânia city football club. The club is the first team of its state to win a national competition, which was the...
  
  
• MA
  Campeonato Maranhense
  The Campeonato Maranhense is the football league of the state of Maranhão, Brazil.-Format:First Division 2006First Stage*Double round-robin, in which all teams play each other home-and-away games.*Home-and-away playoffs with the top 4 teams....
  
   - Sampaio Corrêa
  Sampaio Corrêa Futebol Clube
  Sampaio Corrêa Futebol Clube, usually known as Sampaio Corrêa, is a Brazilian football club from São Luís, Maranhão state, founded on March 25, 1923....
  
  
• MG
  Campeonato Mineiro
  Campeonato Mineiro is the state football league of the state of Minas Gerais and is controlled by the Minas Gerais Football Federation FMF ....
  
   - Cruzeiro
  Cruzeiro Esporte Clube
  Cruzeiro Esporte Clube is a Brazilian football team, from Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, and are one of the only five clubs to have never been relegated, along with Santos, São Paulo, Flamengo and Internacional. Founded on January 2, 1921, they are only one of three clubs to have participated in...
  
  
• MS - CENE
• MT - Cuiabá
  Cuiabá Esporte Clube
  Cuiabá Esporte Clube, commonly known as Cuiabá, is a Brazilian football team based in Verdão, Cuiabá, Mato Grosso state. They won the Campeonato Mato-Grossense three times, competed in the Copa do Brasil three times and in the Série D once....
  
  
• PA
  Campeonato Paraense
  Campeonato Paraense is the football league of the State of Pará, Brazil. It is organized by the Pará State Football Federation.-Clubs:Campeonato Paraense 2009*Águia de Marabá Futebol Clube*Clube Municipal Ananindeua...
  
   - Independente
  Independente Atlético Clube (PA)
  Independente Atlético Clube, commonly known as Independente, is a Brazilian football men's and women's club based in Tucuruí, Pará state. The women's team competed in the Copa do Brasil de Futebol Feminino once and the men's team won the Campeonato Paraense once and competed in the Série D...
  
  

• PB
  Campeonato Paraibano
  The Campeonato Paraibano is the football league of the state of Paraíba, Brazil.-Format:As in any other Brazilian soccer championship, the format can change and be adapted every year, mostly to avoid conflicts for the teams that will compete at a national level.The most recent season was played in...
  
   - Treze
  Treze Futebol Clube
  Treze Futebol Clube is a Brazilian football team from Campina Grande in Paraíba, founded on September 7, 1925. The club competed in the Campeonato Brasileiro Série A several times.Treze greatest rivals are Botafogo and Campinense....
  
  
• PE
  Campeonato Pernambucano
  The Campeonato Pernambucano de Futebol is the football championship of Pernambuco state, Brazil, and is organized by the Pernambuco Football Federation....
  
   - Santa Cruz
  Santa Cruz Futebol Clube
  Santa Cruz Futebol Clube, or simply Santa Cruz is a Brazilian football club in Recife, Pernambuco.-Early history:On February 3, 1914, eleven young men aging from 14 to 16 years founded a football society...
  
  
• PI
  Campeonato Piauiense
  The Campeonato Piauiense is the football league of the state of Piauí, Brazil. The competition is organized by the Piauí Football Federation.-Clubs:First Division*4 de Julho Esporte Clube*Barras Futebol Club...
  
   - 4 de Julho
  4 de Julho Esporte Clube
  4 de Julho Esporte Clube, commonly known as 4 de Julho, is a Brazilian football club based in Piripiri, Piauí state. They competed in the Série B once and in the Série C twice.-History:...
  
  
• PR
  Campeonato Paranaense
  Campeonato Paranaense, which has been contested since 1915, is the football league of the state of Paraná, Brazil. The "Série Ouro", literally the Golden Series, are the highest division of the league.-Format:...
  
   - Coritiba
  Coritiba Foot Ball Club
  Coritiba Foot Ball Club, commonly known as Coritiba, is a Brazilian football team from Curitiba, Paraná. It's the state's oldest football team and the best classified in the CBF and FIFA classifications. Coritiba has been champion in Paraná State for 35 times, more times than the sum of all the...
  
  
• RJ
  Campeonato Carioca
  The Campeonato Carioca, also known as Campeonato Estadual do Rio de Janeiro, is the football league of the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and is one of the most prestigious national football tournaments...
  
   - Flamengo
  Clube de Regatas do Flamengo
  Clube de Regatas do Flamengo , also known as Flamengo and familiarly as Mengão, is a Brazilian sports club based in the Flamengo bairro, Zona Sul, Rio de Janeiro, best known for its professional football team...
  
  
• RN
  Campeonato Potiguar
  The Campeonato Potiguar is the football league of the state of Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil.-Format:First DivisionFirst stage: standard round-robin, in which all teams play each other once....
  
   - ABC
  ABC Futebol Clube
  ABC Futebol Clube, or ABC, as they are usually called, is a Brazilian football team from Natal in Rio Grande do Norte, founded on June 29, 1915. ABC is the oldest club of Rio Grande do Norte state...
  
  
• RO
  Campeonato Rondoniense
  The Campeonato Rondoniense is the football league of the state of Rondônia, Brazil. Between 1945 and 1990, the league was an amateur competition...
  
   - Espigão
  Esporte Clube Espigão
  Esporte Clube Espigão, commonly known as Espigão, is a Brazilian football club based in Espigão d'Oeste, Rondônia state. They won the Campeonato Rondoniense once.-History:...
  
  
• RR
  Campeonato Roraimense
  The Campeonato Roraimense is the football league of the state of Roraima, Brazil.-Format:First DivisionFirst Stage*Standard round-robin, in which all teams play each other once.Second Stage*Teams are divided in two groups of four....
  
   - Real
  Associação Esportiva Real
  Associação Esportiva Real, commonly known as Real, is a Brazilian football club based in São Luiz do Anauá, Roraima state. They won the Campeonato Roraimense once.-History:...
  
  
• RS
  Campeonato Gaúcho
  The Campeonato da Primeira Divisão de Futebol Profissional da FGF is the top tier of the footballleague of the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.-Clubs:Clubs qualified to Campeonato Gaúcho Primeira Divisão 2011.*Canoas*Caxias...
  
   - Internacional
  Sport Club Internacional
  Sport Club Internacional is a Brazilian football team and multi-sport club from Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, founded on April 4, 1909, and are one of the only five clubs to have never been relegated, along with Santos, São Paulo, Flamengo and Cruzeiro. They play in red shirts, white shorts and...
  
  
• SC
  Campeonato Catarinense
  Campeonato Catarinense is the Brazilian State of Santa Catarina football league.-History:The Campeonato Catarinense top level had several different names since it started. From its first edition, in 1924, to 1985, it was called just Campeonato Catarinense...
  
   - Chapecoense
  Associação Chapecoense de Futebol
  Associação Chapecoense de Futebol, usually known simply as Chapecoense, is a traditional Brazilian football club from Chapecó, Santa Catarina state. The club was founded on May 10, 1973, and competed in the Brazilian Championship First Level in 1978 and in 1979, and won the state championship four...
  
  
• SE
  Campeonato Sergipano
  The Campeonato Sergipano is the football league of the state of Sergipe, Brazil.-Format:Serie A-1Double round-robin, in which all teams play each other home-and-away games.The team with the most points is crowned the champion....
  
   - River Plate
  Sociedade Esportiva River Plate
  Sociedade Esportiva River Plate, commonly known as River Plate, is a Brazilian football club based in Carmópolis, Sergipe state. They competed in the Série D twice.-History:...
  
  
• SP
  Campeonato Paulista
  The Campeonato Paulista de Futebol Profissional da Primeira Divisão - Série A1, simply known as the Campeonato Paulista, is the top-flight professional football league in the Brazilian state of São Paulo. The league is contested between 20 clubs and typically lasts from January to April...
  
   - Santos
  Santos Futebol Clube
  Santos Futebol Clube is a Brazilian professional football club based in Santos, São Paulo They play in the Campeonato Paulista and the Campeonato Brasileiro Série A, the highest professional leagues in São Paulo state and Brazil, respectively....
  
  
• TO
  Campeonato Tocantinense
  The Campeonato Tocantinense is the football league of the state of Tocantins, Brazil.-Format:First Division*First stage: standard round-robin, in which all teams play each other once....
  
   - Gurupi
  Gurupi Esporte Clube
  Gurupi Esporte Clube, commonly known as Gurupi, is a Brazilian football club based in Gurupi, Tocantins state. They competed three times in the Série C, and will compete in the 2011 Série D.-History:...
  
  

List of Brazilian state championships

• Campeonato Acriano
• Campeonato Alagoano
  Campeonato Alagoano
  The Campeonato Alagoano is the football league of the state of Alagoas, Brazil.-Format:First Division 2010The Campeonato Alagoano is divided into three stages....
  
  
• Campeonato Amapaense
  Campeonato Amapaense
  The Campeonato Amapaense is the football league of the state of Amapá, Brazil.-Format:First Stage*Standard round-robin, in which all teams play each other once.*Single leg playoff between the top 2 teams...
  
  
• Campeonato Amazonense
  Campeonato Amazonense
  The Campeonato Amazonense is the football league of the state of Amazonas, Brazil.-Format:The Campeonato Amazonense is divided into Taça Amazonas and Taça Cidade de Manaus.Taça Amazonas...
  
  
• Campeonato Baiano
  Campeonato Baiano
  The Campeonato Baiano is the football league of the state of Bahia, Brazil. The championship has been played since 1905 without interruption.-2008 format:First stage:...
  
  
• Campeonato Brasiliense
  Campeonato Brasiliense
  The Campeonato Brasiliense, also known as Campeonato Metropolitano de Brasília or Campeonato Candango, is the football league of the Distrito Federal, Brazil....
  
  
• Campeonato Capixaba
  Campeonato Capixaba
  The Campeonato Capixaba is the football league of the Brazilian state of Espírito Santo.-History:From 1917 to 1929, it was disputed the Campeonato da Cidade de Vitória , a competition contested only by Vitória city clubs...
  
  
• Campeonato Carioca
  Campeonato Carioca
  The Campeonato Carioca, also known as Campeonato Estadual do Rio de Janeiro, is the football league of the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and is one of the most prestigious national football tournaments...
  
  
• Campeonato Catarinense
  Campeonato Catarinense
  Campeonato Catarinense is the Brazilian State of Santa Catarina football league.-History:The Campeonato Catarinense top level had several different names since it started. From its first edition, in 1924, to 1985, it was called just Campeonato Catarinense...
  
  
• Campeonato Cearense
  Campeonato Cearense
  The Campeonato Cearense is the football league of the state of Ceará, Brazil.-Format:The Cearense Championship has three divisions with the following division and format :First DivisionThe ten clubs play two legs...
  
  
• Campeonato Gaúcho
  Campeonato Gaúcho
  The Campeonato da Primeira Divisão de Futebol Profissional da FGF is the top tier of the footballleague of the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.-Clubs:Clubs qualified to Campeonato Gaúcho Primeira Divisão 2011.*Canoas*Caxias...
  
  
• Campeonato Goiano
  Campeonato Goiano
  The Campeonato Goiano is the football league of the state of Goiás, Brazil.-Format:First DivisionFirst stage*Teams are divided in two groups of six teams....
  
  
• Campeonato Maranhense
  Campeonato Maranhense
  The Campeonato Maranhense is the football league of the state of Maranhão, Brazil.-Format:First Division 2006First Stage*Double round-robin, in which all teams play each other home-and-away games.*Home-and-away playoffs with the top 4 teams....
  
  
• Campeonato Mato-Grossense

• Campeonato Mineiro
  Campeonato Mineiro
  Campeonato Mineiro is the state football league of the state of Minas Gerais and is controlled by the Minas Gerais Football Federation FMF ....
  
  
• Campeonato Paraense
  Campeonato Paraense
  Campeonato Paraense is the football league of the State of Pará, Brazil. It is organized by the Pará State Football Federation.-Clubs:Campeonato Paraense 2009*Águia de Marabá Futebol Clube*Clube Municipal Ananindeua...
  
  
• Campeonato Paraibano
  Campeonato Paraibano
  The Campeonato Paraibano is the football league of the state of Paraíba, Brazil.-Format:As in any other Brazilian soccer championship, the format can change and be adapted every year, mostly to avoid conflicts for the teams that will compete at a national level.The most recent season was played in...
  
  
• Campeonato Paranaense
  Campeonato Paranaense
  Campeonato Paranaense, which has been contested since 1915, is the football league of the state of Paraná, Brazil. The "Série Ouro", literally the Golden Series, are the highest division of the league.-Format:...
  
  
• Campeonato Paulista
  Campeonato Paulista
  The Campeonato Paulista de Futebol Profissional da Primeira Divisão - Série A1, simply known as the Campeonato Paulista, is the top-flight professional football league in the Brazilian state of São Paulo. The league is contested between 20 clubs and typically lasts from January to April...
  
  
• Campeonato Pernambucano
  Campeonato Pernambucano
  The Campeonato Pernambucano de Futebol is the football championship of Pernambuco state, Brazil, and is organized by the Pernambuco Football Federation....
  
  
• Campeonato Piauiense
  Campeonato Piauiense
  The Campeonato Piauiense is the football league of the state of Piauí, Brazil. The competition is organized by the Piauí Football Federation.-Clubs:First Division*4 de Julho Esporte Clube*Barras Futebol Club...
  
  
• Campeonato Potiguar
  Campeonato Potiguar
  The Campeonato Potiguar is the football league of the state of Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil.-Format:First DivisionFirst stage: standard round-robin, in which all teams play each other once....
  
  
• Campeonato Rondoniense
  Campeonato Rondoniense
  The Campeonato Rondoniense is the football league of the state of Rondônia, Brazil. Between 1945 and 1990, the league was an amateur competition...
  
  
• Campeonato Roraimense
  Campeonato Roraimense
  The Campeonato Roraimense is the football league of the state of Roraima, Brazil.-Format:First DivisionFirst Stage*Standard round-robin, in which all teams play each other once.Second Stage*Teams are divided in two groups of four....
  
  
• Campeonato Sergipano
  Campeonato Sergipano
  The Campeonato Sergipano is the football league of the state of Sergipe, Brazil.-Format:Serie A-1Double round-robin, in which all teams play each other home-and-away games.The team with the most points is crowned the champion....
  
  
• Campeonato Sul-Mato-Grossense
• Campeonato Tocantinense
  Campeonato Tocantinense
  The Campeonato Tocantinense is the football league of the state of Tocantins, Brazil.-Format:First Division*First stage: standard round-robin, in which all teams play each other once....
  
  
• Brazilian football league system
  Brazilian football league system
  The Brazilian football league system is a series of interconnected leagues for football clubs in Brazil. It consists of several independent pyramids, which are the national pyramid, and the state pyramids. As those pyramids are independent, clubs usually compete in both pyramids in the same year...