The Paraná Football Federation (FPF) wants to create a new tournament, which would be a kind of Paraná Cupto be held after the 2025 Paranaense Championship. The objective is to extend the calendar of clubs in the First Division of the State and the prize for the champion will be a place in the 2026 Copa do Brasil.
“We talked to the clubs and we want to create a new competition, worth one of the places in the Copa do Brasil, so that we can have a more extensive calendar, which reaches more clubs in the interior and so that they can aim for a more national”, said president Hélio Cury Filho in a press conference held after the arbitration.
The place in the Copa do Brasil would be one of the five places that the First Division gives to clubs. In other words, the 2025 Paranaense Championship loses one of the qualifying places for the national tournament.
However, Cury highlighted that the competition will only get off the ground with the participation of at least eight clubs. In addition to First Division clubs that do not have a national calendar, the idea also covers Access Division teams.
In other words, several teams, such as Paraná Club can expand the 2025 calendar beyond the State calendar.
Return of the interior champion
Another novelty announced by Hélio Cury Filho was the return of the champion from the interior. With Athletico and Coritiba dominating the list of state champions, the best-ranked team from the interior will also receive a cup.
“We will return with the interior champion’s trophy. It is understood that the team that is not in Curitiba and the metropolitan region, by definition, the best classified will have the right to the interior trophy, regardless of the classification”, highlights the president of the Federation.
Therefore, five of the 12 First Division clubs are out of contention for the interior trophy – Andraus, Athletico, Coritiba, Paraná Clube and São Joseense. In other words, seven teams are in contention for the trophy: Azuriz, Cianorte, FC Cascavel, Londrina, Maringá, Operário and Rio Branco.
Paranaense Championship 2025
After the arbitration, the dates for the State Championship were confirmed. The start of Ruralzão will be on January 11th and the final is scheduled for March 26th. The opening game will be the classic between Athletico current champion, and Paraná Club champion of the Access Division, but still without a defined command.
Furthermore, the directors reached a consensus that registrations would not have limitations in the first phase. The discussion took over the tournament in 2024, as 35 athletes were allowed to register until that year. Athletico was against the limitation and had a widespread position among its rivals.
Another important change was that, adapting to national competitions, nine foreigners will be allowed in the State Championship.