Taça Rio · History

The Taça Rio has been organised by the Rio de Janeiro State Football Federation (FERJ) since 1982 and is played within the Campeonato Carioca, the state championship of Rio. It began as the name of the championship’s second round, the counterpart to the Taça Guanabara, which named the first. Its format has changed several times since then: it has been a deciding round for the state title, a parallel tournament for smaller clubs, a consolation tournament and a route into the semi-finals. Vasco da Gama hold 11 titles and Botafogo 10.

Origins in 1982

Until 1982 the second round of the Campeonato Carioca had no name of its own, while the first was already called the Taça Guanabara. That year FERJ named the second round the Taça Rio, and the first winners were America, who beat Botafogo. According to the federation, the Taça Rio de Janeiro played in 1978 is a separate competition and does not count. The rules were simple: the winners of the two rounds played for the state title, and a club that won both trophies was crowned champion without the need for a final.

The big four’s era (1983-2001)

Between 1983 and 1993 the trophy almost always stayed with Rio’s four big clubs. Flamengo won it in 1983, 1985, 1986 and 1991; Vasco in 1984, 1988, 1992 and 1993; Botafogo in 1989; and Fluminense in 1990. The exception was Bangu, who won in 1987 against Vasco after finishing as runners-up in 1983 and 1985. The Taça Rio was not held in 1994 or 1995. When it returned in 1996, Flamengo lifted the trophy; Botafogo followed in 1997, Vasco in 1998 and 1999, Flamengo in 2000 and Vasco again in 2001.

Clubs from the interior and the suburbs (2002-2013)

In 2002 Americano, from Campos dos Goytacazes, broke the big clubs’ run by beating Vasco in the final. Vasco answered with titles in 2003 and 2004, and Fluminense won in 2005. In 2006 the winners were Madureira, who defeated Americano. From then on the cup was shared between Botafogo, winners in 2007, 2008, 2010 and 2012, and Flamengo, in 2009 and 2011. In 2013 Botafogo beat Fluminense in the final and, having also won the Taça Guanabara, were crowned Carioca champions without a final.

Parallel and consolation tournament (2014-2020)

In 2014 and 2015 the Taça Rio was played as a parallel tournament among the smaller clubs, without the big four. Boavista won it in 2014 against Friburguense, and Madureira in 2015 against Bangu. In 2016 it became a consolation tournament for teams from the Taça Guanabara and the relegation group, and the title went to Volta Redonda, who beat Resende. Between 2017 and 2019 it was again a stage of the Carioca whose winner reached the semi-finals: Vasco won in 2017, Fluminense in 2018 and Flamengo in 2019. In 2020 Fluminense, as Taça Rio winners, beat Flamengo.

From 2021 to 2025

From 2021 the cup was contested by the teams finishing fifth to eighth in the Taça Guanabara. Vasco won that edition against Botafogo to reach their eleventh title. Resende were champions in 2022 against Nova Iguaçu, Botafogo won in 2023 and again in 2024 against Boavista, and in 2025 Sampaio Corrêa won their first Taça Rio in the final against Madureira.

The 2026 edition

In 2026 the format changed once more: the four teams knocked out in the quarter-finals of the Campeonato Carioca took part. The final was a single match at the Estádio Nilton Santos between Botafogo and Bangu, who were playing their fourth losing final after those of 1983, 1985 and 2015. With a 3-1 win over Bangu, Botafogo claimed their tenth Taça Rio on 7 March 2026.