Regional football competitions begin in Portugal and Brazil

The Taça AF Setúbal, Joaquim José Sousa Marques, is scheduled to begin its new season on Sunday, August 30. The group stage will feature 32 clubs, including 15 from the first division and 17 from the second tier. The teams are divided into six series of varying sizes. To advance to the knockout phase, the top two teams from each series will qualify, along with the four third-placed teams possessing the best coefficients.

In Brazil, the Gauchão Série B (Third Division) is set to commence on September 5. Organized by the Federação Gaúcha de Futebol, this year's competition introduces a Sub-23 age limit and a new format. Ten clubs will compete in a single group playing a single round-robin phase. Only the champion and runner-up will secure promotion to the Gauchão Série A2 for 2027, with teams finishing between third and sixth place entering a playoff to determine the remaining semifinalists.