Between football and finances, Vasco will experience a decisive year in 2026. Despite an evening that seemed to have everything to be historic, with a big party organized by the supporters at the Maracanã, the bitter runner-up of the Copa do Brasil ended a title chance that was unexpected just a few months ago. Among the pieces that must be assembled by January, however, one of them is positive: the base of the squad so far constituted, even if some of the main pieces only arrived during the second transfer window.
The Vasco group is still far from being one of the most competitive formations in Brazilian football, but a new approach towards an efficient market, like that led by executive director Admar Lopes – until now a newcomer – could bring the club closer to this level.
Among the most important reinforcements of the season, the defender duo Cuesta and Robert Renan and the striker Andrés Gómez have loan contracts that vary between the end of 2025 and mid-2026. In the years to come, the club will have to pay around 18 million euros (116 million reais), even in installments, to permanently keep the trio.
The 2026 season, in addition to the South American competition, will have the particularity of an earlier start to the Brasileirão, which begins on January 28. In other words, you have to be agile to strengthen the team. The scares the club faced in 2023 and 2025, during struggles against relegation, cannot be repeated.
Coach Fernando Diniz explained that there were already discussions about planning for next season, but that more progress was needed on the subject.
— We discussed and did not delve into the subject (…) The biggest gain for the team is maintaining the base. Then we will see in detail. You know that Vasco is having financial difficulties. Let’s try to do something like in the second window, in which we were quite assertive.
Financial difficulties directly affect situations involving the backstage of the club. Vasco is in the home stretch of consolidating its legal recovery plan and will have to better organize its income to meet payments to creditors. In October, the club signed an 80 million reais loan aimed specifically at the process.
The Copa do Brasil runner-up won a R$33 million prize, part of the competition’s R$57 million total revenue. The year could also see the sale of Rayan, whose contractual fine was increased to 80 million euros upon his contract renewal.
Judicial recovery is also important in matters of resale of SAF, an issue which has ended up being left aside in recent months. Pedrinho’s board continues to assure that he is interested in finding a new investor in football. 2026 is an election year at the club, and Pedrinho has not yet announced whether he will run for re-election, which is very likely at the moment.
Finally, São Januário is another topic for next year. The renovation continues without a specific date, while Vasco awaits agreements with construction companies interested in the construction potential. There is a lineup to play Nilton Santos, but, for now, Colina should remain open.
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