Campeonato Paulista

The oldest state league in Brazil, where Corinthians holds 30 state crowns.

The Campeonato Paulista Série A1, commonly known as Campeonato Paulista, nicknamed Paulistão, is the top-flight professional state football league in the Brazilian state of São Paulo. Run by the São Paulo State Football Federation (FPF), the league is contested by 16 clubs and typically lasts from January to April. Rivalries amongst four of the best-known Brazilian teams (Corinthians, Palmeiras, Santos and São Paulo) have marked the history of the competition. The Campeonato Paulista is the oldest established league in Brazil, being held since 1902 and professionally since 1933.

Quick Facts

Organiser: FPF
Founded: 1902
Teams: 16
Relegation: Série A2
Levels: 1
Champions: Palmeiras (27th title)
Most successful club: Corinthians (31 titles)
Top goalscorer: Pelé (466)

Lore & Background

Charles Miller was responsible for the creation of the first São Paulo state tournament. Miller introduced the Laws of the Game to Brazil upon his return from England. On December 14, 1901, the Liga Paulista de Foot-Ball (LPF) was founded, comprising five initial teams: São Paulo Athletic Club, Internacional, Mackenzie College, Paulistano and Germania. Between April and October 1902, those teams competed in the first edition of the tournament, with São Paulo AC winning the title.

Football popularity grew, and a group of workers were inspired to found Sport Club Corinthians Paulista. In the 1910s–1930s, growth of football popularity amongst lower classes generated a rift, leading to the creation of the Associação Paulista de Esportes Atléticos (APEA). Corinthians and Palestra Itália helped comprise the new league. Players became professional in 1933.

The Federação Paulista de Futebol (FPF) was officially formed on April 22, 1941. Corinthians conquered the trophy five times in the 1995–2003 period, thus becoming the most successful team in the first 100 years of the Campeonato Paulista, with 25 titles.

Reader's Guide

Campeonato Paulista is held annually by the FPF. After 2016, 16 clubs compete at the highest championship level (Série A1). In a format started in 2015, the 16 teams are divided into four groups of four; teams of the same group don't play each other, totaling 12 rounds. The top two of each group advance to an eight-team playoff with a single-legged tie in the Quarterfinals and Semi-finals; only the Final happens in a two-leg format. The two lowest-placed teams in the overall table are relegated to Série A2. The six best clubs reaching the latter stages qualify for the Copa do Brasil, and the best three qualify for the Série D. Série A2 is contested by 16 teams in two phases; the two finalists advance to Série A1. Série A3 and Série A4 follow similar formats. From 2024, the Segunda Divisão or Paulistão Sub-23 stands as the 5th tier.

Did You Know?

Pelé was the league top scorer in every year between 1957 and 1965, including a record 58 goals in a single season.
The championship was suspended from March 15, 2021, till March 30, 2021, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.