Campeonato Paulista

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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.

In Their Own Story

The journey to Corinthians' first state title began with the founding of the LPF on December 14, 1901, by Charles Miller, who introduced the Laws of the Game from England. The inaugural tournament ran between April and October 1902, won by São Paulo AC, but Corinthians would eventually claim their own history. After decades of competing against dominant forces like Santos, whose star Pelé scored a record 58 goals in a single season between 1957 and 1965, Corinthians broke through. In the first century of the competition's existence, they secured 25 titles, becoming the most successful team during that span. The 1990s saw them conquer the trophy five times between 1995 and 2003. A significant moment occurred on September 23, 2021, when the FPF officially recognized historical titles from 1933 and 1934, awarded to Albion and Juventus respectively, adding depth to the league's complex record-keeping. Despite a title drought ending in 1977 after 24 years, the club has remained central to the state's football mania.

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?

• The Campeonato Paulista is the oldest established league in Brazil, being held since 1902.
• Corinthians became the most successful team in the first 100 years of the Campeonato Paulista, with 25 titles.
• 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.