| Relegated: | America (RJ), Guarani (SP) |
| League Topscorer: | França (São Paulo) – 19 goals |
| Biggest Home Win: | São Paulo 7–0 Bangu (Feb 17) |
| Biggest Away Win: | America 0–8 Fluminense (Jan 27) |
| Matches: | 126 |
| Total Goals: | 469 |
The 2002 Torneio Rio São Paulo was the 26th and the last edition disputed of the Torneio Rio-São Paulo. It was the edition with the most participants involved, and it was expected to be at the top of the pyramid of Campeonato Paulista and Campeonato Carioca.
| Team | City | Ground | Nº participations | Best result | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| America | Rio de Janeiro | Edson Passos | 14 | 5th (1962) | |
| Americano | Campos dos Goytacazes | Godofredo Cruz | 1 | Debut | |
| Bangu | Rio de Janeiro | Moça Bonita | 8 | 3rd (1951) | |
| Botafogo | Rio de Janeiro | Caio Martins | 23 | Champions: 1962, 1964 (shared), 1966 (shared), 1998 | |
| Corinthians | São Paulo | Rotative | 26 | Champions: 1950, 1953, 1954, 1966 (shared) | |
| Flamengo | Rio de Janeiro | Maracanã | 25 | Champions: 1961 | |
| Fluminense | Rio de Janeiro | Maracanã | 25 | Champions: 1957, 1960 | |
| Guarani | Campinas | Brinco de Ouro | 1 | Debut | |
| Jundiaí | Jundiaí | Jayme Cintra | 1 | Debut | |
| Palmeiras | São Paulo | Parque Antártica | 26 | Champions: 1933, 1951, 1965, 1993, 2000 | |
| Ponte Preta | Campinas | Moisés Lucarelli | 1 | Debut | |
| Portuguesa | São Paulo | Canindé | 21 | Champions: 1952, 1955 | |
| Santos | Santos | Vila Belmiro | 22 | Champions: 1959, 1963, 1964 (shared), 1966 (shared), 1997 | |
| São Caetano | São Caetano do Sul | Anacleto Campanella | 1 | Debut | |
| São Paulo | São Paulo | Morumbi | 25 | Champions: 2001 | |
| Vasco da Gama | Rio de Janeiro | São Januário | 26 | Champions: 1958, 1966 (shared), 1999 |
Note: Jundiaí is the currently Paulista Futebol Clube. The name Jundiaí FC was used during the Torneio-Rio São Paulo dispute after the end of the partnership with Etti Alimentos.[1]
The first stage was disputed in a single round-robin format. The best four placed clubs advanced to the semifinals and qualified for the 2002 Copa dos Campeões edition. 5th and 6th placed clubs also qualified to the Copa dos Campeões. The worst team from São Paulo was relegated to the 2003 Campeonato Paulista edition and the worst team from Rio de Janeiro was relegated to the 2003 Campeonato Carioca edition.
In the semifinals stage the first placed team into the previous stage played against the fourth placed team, while the second and third best placed teams played between each other. The winners advanced to the finals.
Following is the summary of the 2002 Torneio Rio-São Paulo tournament:[2]
Note: São Paulo advanced due to the best fair play criteria.[3]
----
| Rank | Player | Club | Goals | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | França | São Paulo | 19 | |
| 2 | Dodô | Botafogo | 17 | |
| 3 | Romário | Vasco da Gama | 13 | |
| Washington | Ponte Preta | |||
| 5 | Ricardo Oliveira | Portuguesa | 12 |
As from the 2003 season the Campeonato Brasileiro Série A started to be played in a double round-robin format, the lack of available dates caused the end of the Torneio Rio São Paulo, as well as other regional tournaments such as the Copa Sul-Minas and the Copa do Nordeste (later re-established).[4]
The clubs, however, returned to compete normally in the state championships, this being the first competition to be played in the Brazilian football scheduling.