By Louis Smith.
The 2026 Copa do Brasil semi-finals will take place this weekend, with Palmeiras, Vasco da Gama, Grêmio and Atlético Mineiro all hoping to get off to a good start ahead of the second legs.
This year’s final will be a unique one, as it will be played as a single match rather than the traditional two-legged home-and-away tie that we’ve seen in recent years. The final will take place on December 6 in Brasília, marking the first time the competition’s final will be decided over just one leg.
The four semi-finalists have won 12 Copa do Brasil titles between them, and there are some interesting storylines heading into the final stages of the competition.
Palmeiras are chasing a historic treble, having reached the Copa Libertadores final while also going strong in the Brasileirão title race. However, they will need to beat Flamengo and hope some other results go in their favour over the final few rounds if they are to claim the league title.
Grêmio and Vasco da Gama, on the other hand, are both involved in the relegation battle and will be hoping to pull clear of danger. The Copa do Brasil could come as a bit of a breath of fresh air for both clubs, offering a welcome distraction from their struggles in the league.
The Copa do Brasil also provides an alternative route into next season’s Copa Libertadores. However, changes to CONMEBOL’s regulations mean that second-tier clubs can no longer compete in the competition, which could have implications for Grêmio and Vasco should either side suffer relegation.
Atlético Mineiro are also fighting for continental qualification through the league, but have already reached another continental final in the Copa Sudamericana, where they will face Boca Juniors in Barranquilla.
Palmeiras v Vasco da Gama
We start with Palmeiras and Vasco da Gama, with the former having recently marked six years under manager Abel Ferreira, who has enjoyed a stellar career at the helm of the club and will be hoping to add more trophies to his collection in the coming months.
Palmeiras reached the semi-finals with a 3-0 aggregate victory over Santos. They are four-time Copa do Brasil winners but haven’t tasted success in the competition since 2020.
There is plenty of fixture congestion and player fatigue that Abel Ferreira will have to take into consideration over the next few weeks. However, Palmeiras still have some incredibly exciting players to watch.
Flaco López’s movement inside the box, quality finishing, and aerial threat have caused problems for defences throughout the season. Then, of course, there is Vitor Roque, who has shown all the talent that made him such an exciting prospect at Athletico Paranaense since returning to Brazil, with his pace, pressing, physicality and attacking movement.
Jhon Arias, also returning to Brazil, has found his feet once again, with his creativity, dribbling and ability to create chances out of nothing making him another player to watch.
It promises to be a tough ask for Vasco da Gama, who suffered a 4-1 battering at the hands of bitter rivals Flamengo in midweek.
Their route to the semi-finals saw them enjoy a 3-0 aggregate victory over Vitória. Vasco have won the Copa do Brasil once before, back in 2011.
Their current situation is a bleak one, as they find themselves fighting relegation. However, despite their difficult league campaign, they still have an opportunity to reach a major final.
They will have home advantage in the second leg at São Januário, so keeping themselves in the tie after the opening match will be crucial if they are to make the most of what promises to be an intimidating atmosphere.
Vasco have some key players of their own, including Andrés Gómez, whose pace, direct dribbling and ability to exploit space have been important for the club this season.
However, Gómez picked up an injury against Corinthians, which ruled him out of the midweek match against Flamengo and leaves him doubtful for the semi-final. There is hope that his absence in midweek was partly precautionary, with an eye on the cup tie. His fitness could be crucial to Vasco’s chances of progressing.
Grêmio v Atletico Mineiro
The second semi-final sees Porto Alegre’s Grêmio take on Belo Horizonte’s Atlético Mineiro, with the first leg taking place at Grêmio’s home ground.
Grêmio reached the semi-finals following a victory over city rivals Internacional in the quarter-finals. The five-time Copa do Brasil winners will be hoping to taste success in the competition for the first time since 2016.
They are one of the most successful clubs in the competition’s history, but their current situation in the league is not going particularly well.
They currently find themselves involved in a relegation battle, but like Vasco, the Copa do Brasil offers them an opportunity to win silverware and provides a welcome break from their struggles in the league.
A potential appearance in the final could transform what has otherwise been a disappointing season.
One key man for Grêmio has been former Fulham striker Carlos Vinícius, who scored twice against Internacional in the quarter-finals to help his side progress. His physical presence and finishing ability have been important to Grêmio’s cup run.
For Atlético Mineiro, it has been a much better season in terms of their league campaign, having struggled domestically over the last two seasons despite reaching the Libertadores and Sudamericana finals.
They have once again reached a continental final, this time in the Copa Sudamericana, but have also managed to maintain decent form in the Brasileirão.
Like Grêmio, Atlético Mineiro come into this tie having eliminated their biggest rivals, defeating Cruzeiro 3-2 on aggregate after winning the second leg 2-1.
Galo have two Copa do Brasil titles to their name, having won the competition in 2014 and 2021.
As mentioned, they are also preparing for the Copa Sudamericana final and have a busy fixture schedule ahead of them. With the second leg taking place at Arena MRV, they will be hoping for a positive away performance before attempting to get the job done in front of their home supporters.
It represents another opportunity for Atlético Mineiro to reach a domestic final, having previously reached the Copa do Brasil final in 2024, where they suffered defeat.
They have plenty of attacking talent on show, including Bernard, whose creativity, movement between the lines and blistering pace continue to make him a threat despite his advancing years.
Young goalkeeper Gabriel Delfim is also expected to retain his place between the posts, with Everson not yet fully fit.
COMMENTS