The Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) has expanded its grassroots professional development initiative for 2026, partnering with CONMEBOL to deliver 20 free training events across 14 Brazilian states. The program targets professionals in different football fields, including professional clubs, youth academies, amateur teams, and social football projects, offering specialized instruction and technical support without financial cost to participants.
Expanding Reach Across 14 States
The initiative, operating under the CONMEBOL Evolución program, marks a scaling up from its inaugural run. In its first year, the program held nine training sessions across seven states. For the 2026 calendar, the number of training activities has more than doubled compared to 2025, while widening its geographic scope to 14 states.
Four events have already taken place in Paraná, Alagoas, Amapá, and the Federal District. The expansion reflects a push by organizers to deliver structured educational resources directly to regional state federations.
Curriculum Growth and Specialized Tracks
Along with geographic expansion, the curriculum has grown from three subjects to five. Alongside offerings in youth development, physical preparation, and futsal, the 2026 program introduces dedicated modules for goalkeeping and women’s football.
Each training module accommodates between 30 and 40 participants, selected locally by state federations. The CBF covers all catering and uniform costs during the sessions, ensuring that professionals from amateur and community clubs can attend without economic barriers.
Leadership Perspectives on Regional Impact
Mateus Sena, director of the CBF development and projects department, emphasized the long-term structural goals of the program. “Promoting the development of Brazilian football necessarily involves bringing high-level knowledge to all states,” Sena said. “Our goal is for football professionals in different regions of Brazil to have access to the same methods and reference standards used throughout South American football, without needing to leave their state.”
“When we enhance the professional capacity of those who work daily in clubs and youth systems, the impact extends far beyond the classroom,” he noted. “This knowledge stays local and is applied season after season, helping build a stronger football system across Brazil.”
On-the-Ground Execution from South to North
The 2026 schedule has already touched multiple regions, starting with a physical preparation course held from August 14 to 16 in Curitiba, led by instructors Rodrigo Rezende and Israel Teoldo.
In Maceió, the CSA club training base hosted a specialized goalkeeping course. Instructors included former Santos player Rafael Chiasa and Red Bull Bragantino U20 goalkeeper coach Lucas Mauris, focusing on tactical duties, space management, and attacking involvement.
Early September brought a youth development workshop to the Real Brasília training base, directed by Wilton Santana and Paulo César de Oliveira (PC Oliveira). Shortly after, the Amapá Football Development Center (CDFA) in Macapá—a legacy facility from the 2014 World Cup—hosted a three-day physical preparation seminar led again by Rezende and Teoldo. The Macapá sessions blended theory with practical application, covering training principles, player assessment, workload control, and athletic recovery.
Next Steps and Future Sessions
With additional training modules scheduled throughout the year across participating state federations, the CBF and CONMEBOL continue to roll out regional courses. Local state federations handle participant selection for upcoming modules, while the development department coordinates ongoing curriculum delivery.
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