In 2009, the Campeonato Brasileiro Série D, the fourth division of the Brazilian Football, is currently being contested for first time in history. The competition has 40 clubs, four of which will eventually qualify to the Campeonato Brasileiro Série C to be contested in 2010.
The 40 teams are divided in ten groups of 4, playing within them in a double round-robin format. The two best ranked in each group at the end of 6 rounds will qualify to the Second Stage, which will be played in home-and-away system. Winners advance to Third Stage along with the three losers with best record in previous stages. The quarterfinal winners will be promoted to the . As there is no Série E, technically there will be no relegation. However, teams who were not promoted will have to re-qualify for Série D 2010 through their respective state leagues.
Participating teams[]
Sorted by state, ordered by CBF State Ranking as of December 2007 [1]. Each state federation has its own criteria to indicate a club to this tournament.
2 The 2008 Copa Rio would go to Copa do Brasil 2009 and the 2nd placed to Campeonato Brasileiro Série D 2009. The champion Nova Iguaçu withdrew. The 2nd placed Americano went to Copa do Brasil 2009 and the 3rd Madureira was able to Campeonato Brasileiro Série D 2009.