São Paulo Junior Football Cup 2009: 40th edition begins this Saturday

Brazil's most important youth competition has 44 matches in the first round

GLOBOESPORTE.COM Rio de Janeiro

In 2008, Figueira boys took the title

The ball will start rolling this Saturday, January 3rd, for the 40th edition of the São Paulo Junior Football Cup. Leading up to the final on January 25th, 163 matches will be played in 22 different cities, with 88 clubs vying for the title of Brazil's largest and most important youth competition. SporTV will broadcast the main matches live.

Brazil's most traditional teams will be represented. The competition is the chance young players, up to 18 years old, have been waiting for to showcase their skills and seek a place among the professionals. For clubs, it's an opportunity to uncover talent and polish their talents.

Check out all the competition groups!

See the first phase table!

The Champions

Twenty-one clubs have already celebrated the first major football competition of the year, but it is Corinthians who holds the title of champions with six titles: 69, 70, 95, 99, 2004 and 2005.

Fluminense has won the title five times (71, 73, 77, 86 and 89). In third place is Internacional, with four (74, 78, 80 and 98). Atlético-MG, champion in three editions (75, 76 and 83), is the fourth biggest winner.

Four teams from the state of São Paulo have been champions on two occasions. São Paulo (93 and 2000), Portuguesa (91 and 2002), Ponte Preta (81 and 82) and Nacional-SP (72 and 88). \ The last three teams to lift the trophy were new champions. América-SP, from São José do Rio Preto, in 2006, Cruzeiro, in 2007, and Figueirense, in 2008. In addition to these three, Flamengo (90), Vasco (92), Santos (84), Guarani (94), Santo André (2003), Lousano Paulista (97), Marília (79), América-MG (96), Juventus-SP (85) and Barueri-SP (2001). \ Regulation \

In the first phase, teams face each other within their respective groups, in a single round. The leaders of each group and the ten best-placed teams by technical index, regardless of their group, advance. \ In the event of a tie between two or more teams, the tiebreaker will be based on the following criteria, in order: \ a) Number of wins; \ b) Goal difference; \ c) Number of goals scored; \ d) Fewest red cards; \ e) Fewest yellow cards; \ f) Direct confrontation (only in the event of a tie between two teams) \ g) Draw \ From the second phase onward, the competition will be played in a single-elimination system. All matches that end in a draw will be decided by penalty kicks.\