Gre-Nal, Clássico Mineiro, São Paulo Derby: A Blockbuster Copa do Brasil Quarter-Final Draw

The 2026 Copa do Brasil quarter-final draw has been made: three classic regional derbies will feature at this stage of the competition, the first time since 1989 that three state rivalries have landed in the same round. A fourth tie pits Vasco da Gama against Vitória.

Three classics on the schedule

• Internacional vs Grêmio (the "Gre-Nal", Rio Grande do Sul derby)
• Cruzeiro vs Atlético Mineiro (Clássico Mineiro)
• Palmeiras vs Santos (São Paulo derby)

The head-to-head history

Grêmio and Inter have met only once in Copa do Brasil history, back in 1992 — also in the quarter-finals — when Inter advanced on penalties.

Cruzeiro and Atlético Mineiro have previously met in the quarter-finals in 2019 and 2025 (one win each), but their most significant clash remains the 2014 final: Atlético won 3-0 on aggregate (2-0, then 1-0) to claim their first-ever title in the competition.

Palmeiras and Santos met in the 2015 final: after losing the first leg 0-1, Palmeiras came back to win the second leg 2-1 (a Dudu brace), then won the title on penalties for their third Copa do Brasil crown.

Schedule

First legs are set for 26-27 August 2026, with the second legs on 2-3 September.

Key facts

• Three regional derbies land in the same quarter-final round for the first time since 1989.
• Grêmio and Inter have met only once in Copa do Brasil (1992).
• Atlético Mineiro beat Cruzeiro in the 2014 final (3-0 on aggregate).
• Palmeiras won the 2015 final against Santos on penalties.