Guanabar Cup

16 teams are divided into 2 groups with traditional leaders - Botafogo, Flamengo, Fluminense and Vasco da Gama. These four teams are sent in groups of two. It is possible to select other teams and place them in groups, but the criteria for selecting teams are not stated in the competition rules and are never publicly discussed.

Each team plays in a group of 7 games. The first two group leaders are preparing for the semifinals. The first team of the first group plays with the second team of the second group and vice versa in one single match. Semifinal winners play the final game. The champion of the tournament goes to the final of the Rio de Janeiro Championship to meet the winner of the Rio Trophy there.

In 1965, the first session of the tournament was held. At that time, the tournament was not related to the Rio Championship. Only in 1982, the tournament became the first stage of the Carioc championship, but this is also considered a separate competition, with a trophy awarded to the winner. The current format was adopted, with changes only in 1994 and 1995. In 1994, twelve teams were divided, as now, into two groups. But the teams played not only between the teams of the group, but also between the teams of the second group, as in the Rio Trophy, and the winners of the groups played among themselves. The final was played to determine the owner of the Cup itself, and two group winners entered the final Carioca tournament. The 4 winning teams of the Guanabar Cup groups played among themselves in a round robin system for the championship in the Carioca League.

In 1995, the number of teams increased to 16. Teams were divided into two groups of 8 clubs. As in 1994, the teams played the first round against the teams of their group, and the second against the teams of another group. The winners of the groups played in the final of the Guanabara Cup. The top 4 teams in each group challenged the right to win the Carioca Championship.

In 1996, the old format was returned. In 1994 and 1996, the Rio Cup was not held.

• Flamengo RJ - 20 cups
• Vasco da Gama RJ - 12
•   Fluminense RJ - 10
• Botafogo RJ - 8
• America RJ - 1
• Americano ( Campus dos Goitacazis ) - 1
• Volta Redonda ( Volta Redonda ) - 1

• Since 1990, the winner of the Guanabra Cup has also won the state championships in 1992, 1994, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2007, 2008 and 2010.
• Flamengo in 1996 and 2011, Vasco da Gama in 1992 and 1998, Botafogo and won both rounds of the Rio de Janeiro state championship.

• Carioca League
• Rio Trophy