Brazil · Tier 1 · 20 clubs

Brasileirão Série A

In US-sports termsBrazil's top flight runs on a calendar year — kicking off in spring, wrapping in December — and doubles as European soccer's favorite shopping mall.

What it is

Brazil's top division — 20 clubs including Flamengo, Palmeiras, Corinthians and Santos (Pelé's club). Uniquely among major leagues, the season follows the calendar year, roughly April to December.

How you get in

Survive the drop, or come up from Série B.

What it feeds

Top finishers → Copa Libertadores; the next band → Copa Sudamericana. Bottom 4 — the busiest trapdoor in our atlas — drop to Série B.

Before the league even starts, clubs play their state championships (São Paulo's Paulistão, Rio's Carioca) — century-old regional tournaments that fill January to March. Brazil plays more soccer than anywhere on Earth.

Where to watch · USFanatiz

See it on the Brazil map →Translate the jargon →

Standings

The table as of our last update.

#	Team	P	W	D	L	GD	Pts
1	Palmeiras	20	13	5	2	+18	44
2	Flamengo	19	11	5	3	+19	38
3	Paranaense	20	11	3	6	+9	36
4	Fluminense	20	9	6	5	+5	33
5	Bragantino	20	9	4	7	+6	31
6	Bahia	20	8	7	5	+4	31
7	Botafogo	20	8	5	7	+2	29
8	Mineiro	20	8	4	8	0	28
9	Corinthians	20	7	7	6	+2	28
10	Coritiba	20	7	6	7	-2	27
11	Cruzeiro	20	7	6	7	-4	27
12	São Paulo	20	7	5	8	+2	26
13	Vitória	20	7	5	8	-5	26
14	Santos	20	5	7	8	-4	22
15	Grêmio	20	5	7	8	-4	22
16	Internacional	20	5	6	9	-4	21
17	Vasco da Gama	20	5	6	9	-8	21
18	Clube do Remo	20	5	6	9	-9	21
19	Mirassol	19	5	5	9	-5	20
20	Chapecoense	20	1	7	12	-22	10