With the format maintained, Copa do Nordeste draws groups from the 2022 edition

The keys for the next edition of the Copa do Nordeste were drawn on Monday (6). Current champion, Bahia appears in Group B, alongside Náutico, CRB, Botafogo-PB, Altos, Floresta, Souza and Ceará, runner-up in 2021. In Group A are Fortaleza, Sport, CSA, Sampaio Corrêa, Campinense, Globo, Atlético-BA and Sergipe.

DEFINED GROUPSSSS!!!! COMING COMING, 2022! ❤️❤️❤️❤️😭 #SorteioDaLampions2022 pic.twitter.com/xY5aeYoTzl

— Northeast Cup (@CopaDoNordeste) December 6, 2021

In the first phase, teams from one group face the other, in a single round, totaling eight rounds. The teams' disposition foresees traditional classics in Pernambuco (Sport and Náutico), Ceará (Fortaleza and Ceará), Alagoas (CSA and CRB) and Paraíba (Botafogo-PB and Campinense).

The top four in each group advance to the knockout. The quarterfinals and semifinals will be played in a single game, while the decision will be round-trip. The format is the same as the previous edition.

That's how it is at Lampions, each confrontation has its historical weight! COME JANUARY! 🔥😍 pic.twitter.com/DREVL4i26M

— Northeast Cup (@CopaDoNordeste) December 6, 2021

The group stage has two newcomers: Floresta (which qualified for the preliminary stage by beating Ferroviário) and Atlético-BA (champion from Bahia in 2021). The calendar is yet to be released, but the forecast is for the tournament to start in January 2022.

The Northeast Cup was disputed for the first time in 1994, with Sport champion on top of CRB. The competition was discontinued in 1995 and 1996, and returned between 1997 and 2003. After six seasons without taking place, the tournament returned in 2010. Again interrupted in 2011 and in 2013, it was resumed permanently in 2013.

Has your team already conquered Orelhuda or will it lift the cup for the first time in 2022? SIT YOUR FINGER ON THE COMMENTS! ❤️🏆 pic.twitter.com/i0xRUpqUr2

— Northeast Cup (@CopaDoNordeste) December 6, 2021

Rivals Vitória and Bahia, with four titles, are the biggest winners. The Rubro-Negro, however, will not be in this edition, as it was surpassed by Botafogo-PB in the preliminary phase. In addition to the Steel Squadron, another five teams present in the competition in 2022 already had the taste of lifting the cup: Sport, Ceará, Fortaleza, Sampaio Corrêa and Campinense.

Text translated using artificial intelligence.