The 1986 Campeonato Brasileiro Série A was the 30th edition of the Campeonato Brasileiro Série A. São Paulo won the championship.

Overview and format

The 1986 tournament ranks as one of the most controversial ever, alongside 1987. For its detractors, it apparently revived old devils from late 1970s by featuring back a single division with 80 teams, allegedly for political reasons as CBF sought support from smaller teams against growing criticism of the top traditional clubs. These in turn saw this as weaker revenue possibilities, exemplified by 1985 final play-offs, combined with real increased competitiveness from these smaller provincial clubs, now also at national league level. Promotion and relegation were still taboo, and unthinkable for top-tier teams. But CBF introduced for the first time this feature (which actually justified the single division formula once for all in order to level the playing field for next-year tournament with more conventional divisions of 24 teams).

First phase

Group A

Group B

Group C

Group D

Groups E to H

Second phase

Group I

Group J

Group K

Group L

Round of 16

Quarterfinals

Semifinals

Finals

Final standings

Série A and Série B overall standings

Sources