Volta Redonda was mathematically relegated to Series C of the Brazilian Championship after Botafogo-SP’s 1-0 victory over Amazonas, on the night of Monday, November 10, 2025, in Ribeirão Preto. The game, valid for the 36th round of Series B, took place at the Santa Cruz Stadium and featured a goal from Léo Gamalho in the second half. With the result, the Steel Squadron, which has 34 points in 36 matches, can no longer reach Athletic, the first team outside the relegation zone, with 40 points and more wins in the tiebreaker criteria.
The team from Rio de Janeiro, coached by Rogério Corrêa, had come from four consecutive defeats: to Operário-PR, Coritiba, Botafogo-SP and Athletico-PR. These stumbles, added to the worst attack in the competition with just 23 goals scored, precipitated the early fall. The club returns to Series C, where it remained for seven seasons until the title in 2024 guaranteed access.
Paysandu had already been relegated previously, as an isolated lantern. There are two rounds left for Volta Redonda, which faces Vila Nova and Coritiba, but with no chance of staying.
Poor performance in numbers
Volta Redonda played 36 games in Série B 2025, with eight wins, ten draws and 18 defeats. The negative goal difference of 17 reflects the irregular campaign.
Away from home, the team wonI have just seven points from 18 matches, with one win and four draws. This fragility as a visitor directly contributed to the relegation.
The attack scored 23 goals, the lowest in the division, while the defense conceded 40. These indicators highlight the offensive difficulties throughout the season.
Sequence of decisive stumbles
The defeat to Operário-PR occurred in September, 2-1, in Ponta Grossa. The game exposed defensive flaws in the second half.
Then, Coritiba won 3-0 at Raulino de Oliveira, in Volta Redonda. The local fans saw the team without reaction after the break.
Botafogo-SP made it 1-0 at home, with a solitary goal that complicated the table. This match, in October, was a negative turning point.
Finally, Athletico-PR beat Volta Redonda 2-0 in Curitiba. The home team dominated from the start, with goals in the first half.
Historical context of the club
Volta Redonda moved up to Série B after winning the Série C title in 2024, under the command of Rogério Corrêa, who has accumulated three trophies for the team. This rise represented the return to the second division after 27 years, since 1998.
Before that, the club remained in the third division for seven consecutive seasons. The last participation of a lower investment team from Rio in Series B was Duque de Caxias, in 2011.
Other cariocas faced similar difficulties: the Americano fell in 2002, Macaé in 2015. These precedents show challenges for regional teams in the elite.
The Rio federation faces criticism for its lack of structure, but the focus now is on the reformulation for 2026. The club classified the under-20s for the Copinha, a sign of investment in the base.
Current roster status
Twenty-six players have contracts coming to an end in December 2025. This list includes key athletes who played in Series B.
Defender Gabriel Bahia, on loan to Botafogo, is Volta Redonda’s second top scorer this season, with five goals. Your mandatory purchase target depends on performance.
The board plans selective renovations. Priorities include reinforcements for the attack, the weakest sector.
- Contracts under analysis: defenders such as MV and full-backs.
- Midfielders and attackers: focus on keeping promising young players.
- Coach Rogério Corrêa: contract renewed for Series C.
Next steps in Series C
Returning to the third division requires immediate planning. Series C 2026 starts in April, with 20 teams in regional groups.
Volta Redonda enters Group A, with rivals such as Remo and Ferroviária. Home games at Raulino de Oliveira will be crucial.
The CBF released the preliminary calendar. The club aims to gain access in 2027, with hiringpunctual actions.
Statistics from Series C show that teams relegated from B take an average of two seasons to return. The focus is on financial stability.
