| 2026 season | |
|---|---|
| Manager | Thiago Carpini |
| Stadium | Arena Castelão |
| Campeonato Brasileiro Série B | 2nd |
| Campeonato Cearense | Champions |
| Copa do Nordeste | Group stage |
| Biggest defeat | Botafogo-SP 4–0 Fortaleza |
During the 2026 season, the 108th in its history, Fortaleza Esporte Clube is currently competing in the Campeonato Brasileiro Série B, to which it was relegated for the first time since 2018. The club is also taking part in the Copa do Brasil, where it has advanced to the fifth round, and in the regional Copa do Nordeste. In the Campeonato Cearense, Fortaleza won the state championship title, claiming its 47th title in the competition and adding it to its trophy cabinet. On 11 December 2025, the club appointed Thiago Carpini as head coach until the end of the 2026 season, succeeding Martín Palermo after the expiration of his contract. That contract would have been automatically extended if the team had avoided relegation.
Transfers
editIn
edit| Pos. | Player | Transferred from | Fee | Date | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DF |  Paulinho
|
Vasco da Gama
|
Undisclosed | 6 February 2026 | |
| MF | Luiz Fernando
|
Athletico Paranaense
|
Undisclosed | 12 February 2026 | |
| DF |  Gabriel Fuentes
|
Fluminense
|
Loan | 13 February 2026 | |
| FW | Gabriel
|
Vasco da Gama
|
Loan | 13 February 2026 | |
| FW |  Juan Miritello
|
Defensa y Justicia
|
Loan | 4 March 2026 |
Out
edit| Pos. | Player | Transferred to | Fee | Date | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DF | Gastón Ávila
|
 AFC Ajax
|
Loan return | 31 December 2025 | |
| MF | Yago Pikachu
|
Remo
|
1 January 2026 | ||
| MF | Breno Lopes
|
Coritiba
|
R$15 million | 15 January 2026 | [1] |
| FW | Juan Martín Lucero
|
 Universidad de Chile
|
20 January 2026 | ||
| DF | Eros Mancuso
|
Estudiantes de La Plata
|
Loan | 22 January 2026 | [2] |
| FW | Deyverson
|
 LDU Quito
|
23 January 2026 | [3] | |
| MF | Kauan
|
Athletic Club (MG)
|
Loan | 28 January 2026 | [4] |
| FW | José María Herrera
|
Red Bull Bragantino
|
30 January 2026 | ||
| FW | Moisés
|
Santos
|
11 February 2026 | ||
| FW |  Adam Bareiro
|
Boca Juniors
|
21 February 2026 | [5] | |
| DF | Diogo Barbosa
|
Juventude
|
27 March 2026 |
Competitions
editOverall record
edit| Competition | First match | Last match | Starting round | Final position | Record | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Win % | |||||
| Campeonato Brasileiro Série B | 21 March 2026 | Matchday 1 | 8 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 10 | 8 | +2 | 50.00 | ||
| Campeonato Cearense | 8 March 2026 | Winners | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | +0 | 0.00 | ||
| Copa do Brasil | 24 February 2026 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 4 | +4 | 100.00 | |||
| Copa do Nordeste | 24 March 2026 | 6 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 5 | +3 | 66.67 | |||
| Total | 20 | 12 | 6 | 2 | 28 | 19 | +9 | 60.00 | ||||
Last updated: 10 May 2026
Source: Competitions
Campeonato Brasileiro Série B
edit| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Promotion or relegation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | São Bernardo | 8 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 14 | 6 | +8 | 16 | Promotion to 2027 Campeonato Brasileiro Série A |
| 2 | Sport | 8 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 11 | 5 | +6 | 16 | |
| 3 | Fortaleza | 8 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 10 | 8 | +2 | 15 | Advance to the promotion play-offs |
| 4 | Náutico | 8 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 9 | 7 | +2 | 13 | |
| 5 | Vila Nova | 8 | 3 | 4 | 1 | 12 | 10 | +2 | 13 |
Updated to match(es) played on 12 May 2026. Source: CBF
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) wins; 3) goal difference; 4) goals scored; 5) head-to-head results (only between 2 teams); 6) fewest red cards; 7) fewest yellow cards; 8) drawing of lots.[6]
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) wins; 3) goal difference; 4) goals scored; 5) head-to-head results (only between 2 teams); 6) fewest red cards; 7) fewest yellow cards; 8) drawing of lots.[6]
Results by round
editUpdated to match(es) played on 10 May 2026. Source: [citation needed]
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss
Matches
edit| 21 March 2026 1 | Botafogo-SP | 4–0 | Fortaleza | |
| 19:15 |
| 31 March 2026 2 | Fortaleza | 0–0 | Cuiabá | Fortaleza |
| 19:00 | Stadium: Arena Castelão |
| 4 April 2026 3 | Fortaleza | 2–1 | Juventude | Fortaleza |
| 16:00 | Stadium: Arena Castelão |
| 12 April 2026 4 | São Bernardo | 0–1 | Fortaleza | |
| 18:00 |
| 19 April 2026 5 | Fortaleza | 3–2 | Criciúma | Fortaleza |
| 20:00 UTC−3 | Stadium: Arena Castelão |
| 26 April 2026 6 | Operário Ferroviário | 0–0 | Fortaleza | Ponta Grossa |
| 18:00 UTC−3 | Stadium: Estádio Germano Krüger Referee: Jefferson Ferreira de Moraes |
| 2 May 2026 7 | Fortaleza | 4–1 | Goiás | Fortaleza |
| 20:30 | Stadium: Arena Castelão |
| 10 May 2026 8 | Avaí | 0–0 | Fortaleza | Florianópolis |
| 18:30 |
|
Stadium: Estádio da Ressacada Referee: Paulo Cesar Zanovelli da Silva |
Copa do Brasil
editSecond round
edit| 24 Feruary 2026 | Fortaleza | 4–3 | Maguary | |
| 21:30 |
Third round
edit| 11 March 2026 | Manauara | 0–1 | Fortaleza | Manaus |
| Stadium: Arena da Amazônia Referee: Gustavo Ervino Baurrmann |
Fourth round
edit| 17 March 2026 | Nova Iguaçu | 0–1 | Fortaleza | |
| 19:00 |
Fifth round
edit| 22 April 2026 First leg | Fortaleza | 2–1 | CRB | Fortaleza |
| 20:30 |
|
Stadium: Arena Castelão Referee: Edina Alves Batista |
Copa do Nordeste
edit| 24 March 2026 1 | Ferroviário | 0–1 | Fortaleza | |
| 21:30 |
| 28 March 2026 2 | Fortaleza | 2–1 | Imperatriz | |
| 19:00 |
| 8 April 2026 3 | Ceará | 2–0 | Fortaleza | |
| 21:30 |
| 16 April 2026 4 | América de Natal | 1–1 | Fortaleza | |
| 19:00 |
| 29 April 2026 5 | Fortaleza | 2–0 | Sport | Fortaleza |
| 21:30 UTC−3 | Stadium: Arena Castelão Referee: Afro Rocha De Carvalho Filho |
Knockout stage
edit| 7 May 2026 Quarter-finals | Confiança | 1–2 | Fortaleza | Aracaju |
| 19:30 | Stadium: Batistão Referee: Paulo Jose Souza Mourao |
References
edit- ^ Moreira, Guilherme. "Coritiba anuncia Breno Lopes como maior contratação da história". Coritiba anuncia Breno Lopes como maior contratação da história.
- ^ Pontes, Thais (January 22, 2026). "Eros Mancuso - Empréstimo para o Estudiantes de La Plata".
- ^ "Deyverson acerta rescisão com o Fortaleza; veja detalhes". ge. January 23, 2026.
- ^ Pontes, Thais (January 28, 2026). "Kauan Rodrigues - Empréstimo para o Athletic-MG".
- ^ "Boca Juniors anuncia a contratação do centroavante Adam Bareiro". Terra.
- ^ "Regulamento Específico da Competição Brasileiro Série B 2026" (PDF) (in Portuguese). CBF. 6 February 2026.
