The football (soccer) Campeonato Brasileiro Série B 1996, the second level of Brazilian National League, was played from August 8 to December 8, 1996. The competition had 25 clubs and two of them were promoted to Série A and three were to be relegated to Série C. The competition was won by União São João.
União São João finished the final phase group with the most points, and was declared 1996 Brazilian Série B champions, claiming the promotion to the 1997 Série A along with América-RN, the runners-up. The three worst ranked teams (Goiatuba, Sergipe and Central) were originally relegated to play Série C in 1997. However, with the cancellation of the relegations of Fluminense and Bragantino in the Série A, the three teams were kept in the Série B for 1997.
Teams Team City Stadium 1995 Season ABC Natal Machadão 5th in Série CABC was promoted after Novorizontino, 15th in the 1995 Série B, withdrew from the 1996 championship due to financial issues. América-MG Belo Horizonte Independência did not participateAfter appealing in the common courts to reverse its relegation in the 1993 Série A, América-MG was suspended from all national competitions for two years, and was reintegrated to the Série B in 1996. América-RN Natal Machadão 16th in Série B Americano Campos dos Goytacazes Godofredo Cruz 12th in Série B Atlético-GO Goiânia Serra Dourada 4th in Série CAtlético Goianiense was promoted after América-SP, 18th in the 1995 Série B, withdrew from the 1996 championship due to financial issues. Ceará Fortaleza Castelão 7th in Série B Central Caruaru Lacerdão 4th in Série B CRB Maceió Pajuçara 20th in Série B Desportiva Cariacica Engenheiro Araripe 10th in Série B Gama Gama Bezerrão 3rd in Série CGama was promoted after Ferroviária, 21st in the 1995 Série B, withdrew from the 1996 championship due to financial issues. Goiatuba Goiatuba Divino Garcia Rosa 11th in Série B Joinville Joinville Ernestão 6th in Série CJoinville was promoted after Bangu, 8th in the 1995 Série B, withdrew from the 1996 championship due to financial issues. Londrina Londrina Café 13th in Série B Mogi Mirim Mogi Mirim Wilson Fernandes de Barros 3rd in Série B Moto Club São Luís Castelão 17th in Série B Náutico Recife Aflitos 19th in Série B Paysandu Belém Curuzú 23rd in Série A Ponte Preta Campinas Moisés Lucarelli 23rd in Série BPonte Preta originally was relegated to the Série C in 1995, but was placed again in the Série B after Barra do Garças, 22nd in the 1995 Série B, withdrew from the competition due to financial issues. Remo Belém Mangueirão 5th in Série B Santa Cruz Recife Arruda 9th in Série B Tuna Luso Belém Francisco Vasques 14th in Série B Sergipe Aracaju João Hora 6th in Série B União São João Araras Herminião 24th in Série A Volta Redonda Volta Redonda Raulino de Oliveira 2nd in Série C XV de Piracicaba Piracicaba Barão da Serra Negra 1st in Série C
First phase Group A
Group B
Group C
Group D
Group E
Second phase
Quarterfinals
Final phase
Final standings
Sources