The 55th edition of the Copa São Paulo de Futebol Júnior, fondly known as the Copinha, kicked off on January 2, 2025, amid much anticipation. This tournament marks Brazil's opening event for the football calendar and features 128 teams competing across 32 groups. The matches will take place at various venues throughout the state of São Paulo, culminating in the final on January 25, coinciding with the city’s anniversary.
This year's Copinha maintains the tried-and-true competition format. Each team will face their counterparts within their group, and the top two from each group will advance to the knockout stages—an exciting development for spectators seeking thrilling young talent. Teams like Corinthians and Palmeiras return with high expectations, as they have historically dominated this competition.
The Corinthian club enters as the current champion and most successful participant, boasting 11 titles. They enjoyed victory against Cruzeiro last year, drawing over 40,000 enthusiastic fans. This year, they hope to capitalize on their strong youth development, highlighted by their standout player, Gui Negão, just 17 years old. The young striker is viewed as one of the tournament’s promising talents, as echoed by Spanish outlet AS, which recognized him among the great hopes of this year's edition.
Similarly, Palmeiras arrives with high hopes after winning the previous two editions. Under the guidance of João Paulo Sampaio, the club’s youth setup has produced notable talents like Luis Benedetti, who is already making waves within the professional team. Their youngsters, such as Figueiredo and Thalys, are expected to shine and potentially lead the team to its third consecutive Copinha title.
São Paulo FC also holds reasons for optimism, especially through its burgeoning star Ryan Francisco. Having scored twice during the Copa do Brasil Sub-20 final against Palmeiras, the 18-year-old forward is anticipated to contribute significantly to his team's campaign. With this being his second Copinha, he aims to prove himself again on this prominent stage.
The tournament’s structure entails not only exciting matches featuring some of Brazil’s premier clubs but also first-time appearances from several teams. New participants this year include Araguaçema from Tocantins and various other clubs from across the nation, illustrating the event’s expansive reach and inclusivity.
A unique aspect of this year's tournament is the implementation of facial recognition technology for ticketing. Attendees wishing to witness the matches must register using the BipFut app, allowing for free access to games through online ticket retrieval. This initiative aims to streamline entry and improve security for visitors at the various venues.
Another notable change this year is the prohibition of gambling-related advertisements, introduced by the Brazilian government. This measure aims to protect minors participating and attending, as youth involvement is central to the tournament's ethos. The Secretary of Prizes and Bets from the Ministry of Finance emphasized the importance of shielding younger audiences from potential gambling-related influences, highlighting national concerns over youth welfare.
With their first matches already lined up, excitement is palpable among the teams. Among these, the Inter-RS team arrives eager to secure their sixth title. Their rivals, Grêmio, also partakes aiming for their first ever victory at the Copinha. Both squads have been preparing diligently, with their opening games set for early January.
Launching the tournament, the first day of play featured six matchups, including São Carlos versus Imperatriz at 15:45 and Botafogo against Fast Clube later at 21:30. Other games included Mirassol, who faced Rio Branco, and Criciúma's encounter with Capitão Poço.
Overall, the Copa São Paulo de Futebol Júnior continues to be a fertile ground for identifying and nurturing future talents who will one day step onto the professional stage. With this year's new faces and classic rivalries, the events promise to be thrilling not just for the participants but for the passionate fans who follow Brazilian football.