Taça Minas Gerais

The Taça Minas Gerais is a traditional football tournament played in the Minas Gerais state in Brazil. From 1973 through 1977 and then in 1980 and 1981, was a separate competition. In 1979 and from 1982 to 1987, it was played as one of the phases in the Campeonato Mineiro, like the Taça Guanabara in the Campeonato Carioca. The tournament was not played again until 1999, but only teams from the interior of Minas Gerais participated and the winner earned itself a berth in the Copa do Brasil. Since 2004, any team from the Campeonato Mineiro's three divisions have been eligible. The winner also gets a berth in the Copa do Brasil as Minas Gerais are allowed five, the other four go to the top four finishers of the Campeonato Mineiro.