FOOTBALL FANS

After 10 years, São Paulo could reconsider its single-crowd derby policy

Corinthians and São Paulo playing on Jan. 18, 2026, in front of only Corinthians fans. Photo: BW Press/Shutterstock

One of the most engaging and entertaining parts of São Paulo’s Football Museum is a permanent installation showcasing the fans of the country’s biggest football clubs. In a large, dimly lit room, hooked up to speakers and projection screens, located in the belly of the Pacaembu stadium, chants of fans from around Brazil alternate, coming from different sides of the room, highlighting the colour, noise, passion and diversity of the domestic game.

But, in São Paulo, this back and forth between rival fans on matchday is restricted to the museum. For the last 10 years, derby matches in the city have been played with home fans only, in what was originally a knee-jerk response to fan trouble that became state policy…

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