Football in Paris

Last updated

Paris department location map 2.svg
Red pog.svg
PSG
Dark-blue pog.svg
Green pog.svg
Bright-blue pog.svg
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Location of the four biggest Parisian football clubs.

Football in Paris dates back to the late 19th century, when the sport first developed in the French capital. Early competitions, including the USFSA Football Championship, were largely limited to Paris and nearby areas, leading to frequent top-level derbies. Clubs such as Standard Athletic Club, Club Français, and The White Rovers emerged as leading sides of this formative period, contesting the first league titles and playing a central role in the development and popularization of football in France.

Contents

During the first half of the 20th century, Parisian football was shaped by clubs such as Racing Club de France Football and Red Star FC, both of which enjoyed sustained success in domestic competitions, particularly the Coupe de France. However, as French football professionalized, the rise of strong provincial sides gradually reduced the prominence of Parisian teams in the top flight, leading many historic clubs to experience decline or relegation.

By the late 1960s, efforts were made to re-establish a major Parisian presence in the first division. Paris FC was founded in 1969, followed by the creation of Paris Saint-Germain FC in 1970. PSG went on to become the city's most successful club, while PFC struggled to regain top-flight status. Paris FC's promotion to Ligue 1 in 2025 marked the first time in decades that the capital was represented by more than one club in the top tier, signaling a potential revival of competitive football in Paris.

In contrast, the Paris derby has gained greater sporting significance in women's football. Paris Saint-Germain FC (women) emerged as a major force following its professionalization in 2012, winning several national titles. Paris FC (women) was the capital's dominant side during the 2000s and re-established itself as a leading contender in the early 2020s. Alongside PSG, Paris FC is one of the few clubs capable of regularly challenging the dominance of OL Lyonnes.

History

Early Parisian rivalries

Club Francais, champions of France in 1896. Le Club francais, champion de France de football en 1896.jpg
Club Français, champions of France in 1896.

Since the origins of French football, several rivalries have existed within the capital city. The first French football championship, held in 1894, was limited to Paris and its surrounding areas and featured six Parisian clubs, resulting in frequent top-flight derbies during this early period. The most prominent rivalry involved three of the competition's founders—Standard Athletic Club, The White Rovers, and Club Français—which emerged as the dominant teams of the era. Together, they contested the first five league titles, with Standard winning four, Club Français claiming one, and the Rovers finishing runners-up on four occasions. [1] [2]

Played in a knockout cup format, the inaugural championship was won by Standard, who defeated the Rovers over two matches in the first-ever all-Paris final. [1] [2] The Rovers had entered as favourites after beating Club Français 1–0 in the semi-finals, courtesy of a late goal by Mac Bain. [3] The first match, played on 29 April 1894, ended in a 2–2 draw after extra time, before a replay on 5 May saw Standard secure a 2–0 victory. Standard repeated the feat in 1895, again overcoming the Rovers in the final with a 3–1 win. [1] [2] [4]

In 1896, the championship adopted a league format. The Rovers won seven of their eight matches, recording a goal difference of 35–2, with their only defeat coming against champions Club Français, and finished runners-up for the third consecutive season. In 1897, the Rovers finished level on points with Standard at the top of the table. As goal difference was not used as a tiebreaker at the time, a deciding match was arranged. Although the Rovers had defeated Standard during the league season, they lost the final 3–2, leaving them without a title for the fourth consecutive year. [4] [5] The club subsequently declined, struggling to attract players, and after two further seasons without contending for the title, the Rovers were dissolved in 1899. [6]

Standard won the championship again in 1898, defeating Club Français in the final, and went on to claim their fifth and final title in 1901, despite the competition being opened to clubs from outside Paris in 1899. The British-only club withdrew from football in 1928 after the French Football Federation (FFF) required all players to hold French residency, but continued to exist thereafter as a British social club in Paris. [2] [7] During the amateur era of the French championship (25 editions between 1894 and 1932), clubs from Paris won ten titles: five by Standard, one by Club Français, and one each by Gallia Club Paris, Racing Club de France Football, CA Paris-Charenton, and Stade Français. [1] [2]

From dominance to decline

The Racing team that won the Ligue 1 and Coupe de France double in 1936. RC Paris 1936.jpg
The Racing team that won the Ligue 1 and Coupe de France double in 1936.

Parisian clubs were equally dominant in the Coupe de France, winning 15 of the first 32 editions, including the first six. Olympique de Paris claimed the inaugural title in 1918, followed by CASG Paris—who denied Olympique a second consecutive crown in the first all-Paris final in 1919—and CA Paris in 1920. [8] Red Star FC, the leading Parisian side of the 1920s, then secured three consecutive titles, becoming the first club to achieve a hat-trick. [9] [10] [11] In the 1921 edition, Red Star notably defeated Racing 4–3 in the semi-finals at the Parc des Princes before winning the final against Olympique, with goalkeeper Pierre Chayriguès playing a decisive role. [8] [12] [13] At the time, the club played in blue and white, but in 1926 it merged with Olympique and adopted the green and white colours still used today. [10] [14]

The hegemony of Parisian clubs continued as Red Star defeated Stade Français 8–2 in the semi-finals and CA Paris 3–1 in the 1928 Coupe de France final, capturing their fourth title in what remains the last all-Paris final to date. [2] [8] [15] CASG and Club Français later added two further Parisian cup victories. [8] In 1932, Red Star, Racing, CA Paris, and Club Français were among the founding members of the professional league launched for the 1932–33 season. [16] [17] The first Parisian derby of the professional era was played on 11 November 1932, when Red Star lost 4–3 to CA Paris at the Stade Bauer. [16] Club Français forward Robert Mercier secured the inaugural top scorer title with 15 goals, thanks to a hat-trick in the final match against Racing, which ended in a 5–5 draw. [18]

Racing and Red Star were at the center of the Parisian rivalry from the 1930s to the 1960s, with Racing holding the upper hand, most notably by winning the Ligue 1 and Coupe de France double in 1936. [9] [16] [17] Racing went on to win the Coupe de France four more times after 1936, with their final title in 1949, while Red Star lifted the trophy once more in 1942—both marking their last major honours. [8] [16] [17] As French football gradually professionalized, the national landscape shifted, and Parisian clubs fell behind major provincial sides such as Sète, Sochaux, and Marseille. [9] CA Paris was relegated in 1934, while Club Français dissolved due to financial difficulties in 1935. [19] [20] Gallia Club Paris, despite a 1926 merger with Stade d'Ivry, also disbanded in 1940. [21] CASG Paris opted not to join the professional ranks in 1933 and instead remained an amateur club until its dissolution in 1951. [22]

In 1946, the less successful Stade Français joined neighbors Racing and Red Star, playing together in the 1946–47 and 1947–48 seasons—the only time three Parisian clubs competed in the top flight simultaneously. [16] [23] That year, Stade Français lost 3–2 to Red Star in the Coupe de France semi-finals, decided by a last-minute goal from Paul Bersoullé; Red Star finished as runners-up. [8] [24] [25] Stade Français gained revenge in 1948 with a 7–0 win over Red Star, who were relegated and merged with them to survive. They split two years later. [16] [26] Racing reached the 1950 Coupe de France final, finished twice as Ligue 1 runners-up, and became the first Parisian club to compete in Europe, entering the 1963–64 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup. [8] [23] [27] Stade Français also appeared twice in the Fairs Cup, defeating Real Betis 2–0 in 1964–65 for the first European win by a Parisian side. However, they never reached a Coupe de France final or finished on the Ligue 1 podium. [23] [24] In the 1954 relegation playoffs, Racing prevailed 4–3 on aggregate, winning promotion to Ligue 1 and sending Stade Français down. [28]

The emergence of PSG

PSG's Carlos Bianchi netted two goals against PFC in 1978. Carlos bianchi psg panini (cropped).jpg
PSG's Carlos Bianchi netted two goals against PFC in 1978.

The late 1960s marked a period of decline for the capital's historic clubs. Racing, based in the northwestern suburb of Colombes, and Stade Français were confined to the amateur leagues, while Red Star, located in the northern suburb of Saint-Ouen-sur-Seine, had passed its prime. To address this void, the FFF initiated the creation of a major inner-city club. Paris FC (PFC) was officially founded in 1969, initially without players, a stadium, or a place in any league. A year later, in 1970, Paris FC merged with Stade Saint-Germain, a club from the western suburb of Saint-Germain-en-Laye that was then competing in Ligue 2. This merger gave rise to Paris Saint-Germain FC (PSG). [29] [30] [31]

PSG won Ligue 2 in their first season, earning promotion to Ligue 1. [32] In their inaugural top-flight campaign, they finished 16th, retaining their status, and claimed their first Parisian derby victory by defeating Red Star 4–1 at the Stade Yves-du-Manoir. [1] [17] [33] At season's end, the Council of Paris, unhappy that the capital's club was based in the suburbs, threatened to withdraw financial support unless it changed its name to Paris FC. [32] [34] PSG president Henri Patrelle refused, and on 20 June 1972, the club split. [32] PSG kept their name but were administratively relegated to Ligue 3, while Paris FC retained Ligue 1 status, moved into the Parc des Princes, and won both derbies against Red Star in the 1972–73 season. [17] [34]

On 10 November 1973, PSG played their first match at the Parc des Princes against promotion rivals Red Star, winning 3–1, with Othniel Dossevi scoring the club's first goal at the stadium. [32] [35] Both clubs reached Ligue 1 in 1974, the same season Paris FC was relegated. PSG took full ownership of the Parc des Princes and became the dominant club in Paris. [1] [17] [30] Their first Parisian derby in Ligue 1 saw them defeat Red Star 2–0 in front of 27,840 spectators, while a draw in the return fixture marked the clubs' final meeting, as Red Star were relegated at the end of the 1974–75 season. [1] [17]

PSG and Paris FC first met as separate entities during the 1978–79 season, with both league fixtures ending in draws, each featuring a goal from PSG's Argentine striker Carlos Bianchi. PFC was relegated at the end of that campaign, leaving PSG as the capital's sole top-flight club. [1] [17] As a result, the rivalry remained relatively subdued for decades, characterized by infrequent meetings and limited supporter hostility. By contrast, PFC and Red Star developed a far more intense rivalry, marked by violent incidents both on and off the pitch, including clashes between ultras shaped by differing cultural and political identities. [9] [30] [36] Red Star's derby with Racing also persisted in the lower leagues; the two clubs have not met in the top flight since 1948. [37] [38] [39]

Lower division derbies

Paris FC faced Red Star for the first time on 4 October 1972. Red Star, entering a club-record sixth consecutive season in the top tier, were confident after a six-match unbeaten run. However, Paris FC secured a convincing 3–0 victory at the Parc des Princes and confirmed their superiority in the return fixture, winning 3–2 at the Stade Bauer after trailing 2–0. The defeat proved a turning point for Red Star, as it was followed by an eleven-match winless run that ultimately resulted in relegation to Ligue 2. [36] [40] The rivalry escalated in March 1978 during a Ligue 2 match at Stade Bauer, with both clubs competing for promotion to Ligue 1. A controversial goal by Jean-François Beltramini gave Paris FC the victory; it was never conclusively determined whether the ball had fully crossed the line, leading to allegations of favoritism by the Council of Paris. [30] [36] [40] The match was further marred by disorder after the Paris FC coach was struck by stones following an obscene gesture, culminating in a pitch invasion by Red Star supporters. [9] Paris FC secured promotion, while Red Star subsequently declared bankruptcy. [30] [36] [40]

Racing's squad ahead of a fifth-tier match in 2025. L'equipe du Racing club de France saison 2025-2026.jpg
Racing's squad ahead of a fifth-tier match in 2025.

The two clubs faced each other on several occasions in the amateur ranks, including twice in the Coupe de France, with one qualification each. [30] [36] In October 1999, with both teams threatened by relegation in Ligue 3, a last-minute goal from Vincent Doukantié secured Red Star's first league victory over Paris FC. Another notable encounter occurred in September 2011 at the Stade Sébastien Charléty. Against a Paris FC side featuring several former Red Star members, including their manager, Red Star produced a dominant performance, scoring four unanswered goals to record the largest victory in the history of the fixture. [36] [40]

Paris FC responded in September 2014 by recording their first league victory over Red Star since the controversial 1978 encounter, courtesy of a disputed penalty converted by Christian Kinkela. [36] [41] [42] The fixture was preceded by serious clashes between the ultras of both clubs. [43] In April 2016, with both teams competing in Ligue 2, bottom-placed Paris FC stunned Red Star in the highest-scoring match in the history of the derby. Having gone eight months without a win, PFC's 4–2 victory ultimately denied Red Star promotion to Ligue 1. Freshly relegated, Paris FC again spoiled Red Star's campaign the following season, eliminating them from the Coupe de la Ligue on penalties. [43] Both clubs eventually established themselves in Ligue 2, with Paris FC returning to Ligue 1 in 2025. [11]

Concurrently, Racing also clashed with Red Star. Having largely dominated the early years of the rivalry, Racing saw Red Star balance the odds in the lower leagues. Winless since the start of the season, Red Star traveled to the Stade Yves-du-Manoir in August 1983 and secured a 2–1 victory. Backed by the Lagardère Group, Racing had the largest budget in Ligue 2 at the time and aimed for promotion to the top flight, which they achieved at the end of the season despite the surprise defeat. [37] The two sides met again in the round of 32 of the Coupe de France in March 1985. Red Star visited the Parc des Princes, but Racing left no room for surprises, winning 3–0 in the first leg, followed by a draw in the return fixture. [39] Fifteen years passed until their next meeting in March 2000. As part of Red Star's 103rd anniversary celebrations, the club organized their match against Racing at the Stade de France in front of 25,000 spectators. To date, it is the only Ligue 3 match ever played at France's national stadium. Red Star celebrated in style with a 2–1 victory, thanks to a brace from Congolese forward Richard Akiana. [37] [38]

Racing's challenge to PSG

PSG quickly established themselves in the top flight and began to gain national recognition, winning the Coupe de France in 1982 and qualifying for the 1982–83 European Cup Winners' Cup. It was the first time in more than 30 years that a Parisian team had won the trophy—the previous one being Racing in 1949—as well as the first appearance in European competition by a Parisian club since Stade Français in 1965. PSG won a second consecutive Coupe de France in 1983, another first for a Paris club since Racing achieved the feat 40 years earlier, in 1939 and 1940. [8] [1] [27] Three years later, in 1986, the club was crowned French champion for the first time in its history, becoming one of only two Paris-based clubs to have won the national title in the professional era. [2] [1] [17] The only other was Racing, which had claimed the title 50 years earlier, in 1936. [16] [17] That same year, Racing also won the Coupe de France, becoming the only club from the capital to achieve the domestic double until PSG repeated the feat in 2015. [16] [44]

In 1986, Racing signed key PSG player Luis Fernandez. LuisFernandezPSG.jpg
In 1986, Racing signed key PSG player Luis Fernandez.

Simultaneously, French businessman Jean-Luc Lagardère, through the Matra group, acquired Racing in 1982 with the aim of challenging PSG's hegemony in the capital. [31] [45] In 1984, led by Algerian 1982 FIFA World Cup star Rabah Madjer, Racing earned promotion to Ligue 1. [45] [31] The club won the promotion playoff 2–0 against Saint-Étienne at the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard, following a draw in the first leg at a packed Stade Yves-du-Manoir in Colombes in front of 40,000 spectators. However, Lagardère chose to relocate the club from its historic home to the Parc des Princes, where it shared the venue with PSG. This decision was later widely regarded by insiders and players as a strategic mistake. Although a new rivalry emerged, public interest remained limited, and the project struggled to generate a clear identity or lasting emotional attachment. [23] [46]

Racing survived only one season in Ligue 1, but returned at the first attempt in 1986. Lagardère oversaw an ambitious recruitment drive that summer, signing Uruguayan star Enzo Francescoli, West Germany playmaker Pierre Littbarski, and French international Luis Fernandez, recruited from city rivals PSG. [45] [47] Despite Francescoli's goals, the team finished 13th, closer to the relegation places than to qualification for European competition. In 1987, Lagardère appointed Portuguese manager Artur Jorge, who had just won the UEFA Champions League with Porto. Despite a promising third place at mid-season, Racing ended the 1987–88 campaign in seventh place, their best finish during the Matra era. The following season, the club avoided relegation to Ligue 2 only on goal difference and failed to qualify for European competition throughout the period. [23] [45]

Having already invested around 300 million francs, Matra and Jean-Luc Lagardère withdrew their backing in 1989. Racing had been playing in front of near-empty crowds at the Parc des Princes, making it impossible to recoup the heavy expenditure on players and management. Attendances rarely exceeded 10,000 spectators, while PSG regularly attracted at least twice as many. [45] [46] [47] In 1990, Racing finished second from bottom in the league and lost the Coupe de France final 2–1 after extra time against Montpellier, but did record a derby victory before being relegated to Ligue 2. On 25 February 1990, talented young winger and future PSG legend David Ginola featured for Racing in a 2–1 victory at the Parc des Princes, with Aziz Bouderbala scoring both goals. After ten Paris derbies against PSG with a broadly balanced head-to-head record, Racing began the following season back at amateur level, where the club has remained ever since. [1] [17] [45]

Return of Paris FC

Paris FC spent decades in obscurity, drifting through the lower divisions before re-emerging as Ligue 2 regulars in the 2010s. In 2024, the club was acquired by France's wealthiest family, the Arnaults of luxury empire LVMH, in partnership with Red Bull. Under this new ownership, PFC earned promotion to Ligue 1 in 2025 for the first time in 46 years. [31] [48] PSG, meanwhile, has been bankrolled by Qatar Sports Investments (QSI) since June 2011, becoming one of the richest clubs in the world and claiming a record number of league titles and domestic cups, in addition to winning the UEFA Champions League in 2025. By contrast, PFC has never won a league or cup. [11] [49] Following promotion, PFC moved to the Stade Jean-Bouin, just 20 meters from the Parc des Princes. The proximity makes it the closest professional derby in the world, with the two stadiums separated by a single street. [48] [50] [51]

On 4 January 2026, PSG faced Paris FC at the Parc des Princes in the first top-flight Paris derby since 1990, when Racing had defeated PSG at the same venue 36 years earlier. None of the starters on either side had been born at the time of that match. PSG supporters welcomed Paris FC with a tifo reading "Paris is ours." The match was closely contested, with PSG edging a 2–1 victory. Désiré Doué opened the scoring before Paris FC equalized after half-time through a Willem Geubbels penalty. Parity lasted only two minutes, however, as Ousmane Dembélé scored the decisive goal. [48] [49] The teams met again a week later in the Coupe de France at the same venue, where PSG were eliminated. Former PSG Youth Academy graduate Jonathan Ikoné scored a late winner to secure a 1–0 victory for Paris FC. The defeat marked PSG's first home loss in the competition since 2022 and their first elimination at the round of 32 since 2014. [11] [52]

Honours

As of 2025 Trophée des Champions. [53] [54] [55]
Club Domestic titlesEuropean titlesWorldwide titles Total Last titleFoundedDissolvedSource
L1 CdF CdL TdC UCL UCWC UIC USC FIC
Paris Saint-Germain 13169141111157 2025 1970 [44]
Racing 156 1949 1896 [28]
Red Star 55 1942 1897 [26]
CASG Paris 22 1925 19031951 [22]
Club Français 11 1931 18921935 [20]
CA Paris-Charenton 11 1920 1906 [19]
Olympique de Paris 11 1918 19081926 [14]

Notable old derbies

As of 12 January 2026. [1] [9] [21] [31]

   Standard    Red Star    CA Paris    CASG Paris    Racing    The White Rovers    Stade Français    Draw

22 April 1894 USFSA SF The White Rovers 1–0 Club Français Bécon-les-Bruyères
14:55 CEST Mac Bain Soccerball shade.svg75' Report Stadium: Terrain de Bécon
Referee: Georges Caizac
Note: Semi-finals of the first recognized amateur football championship held in France.
29 April 1894 USFSA final Standard 2–2 The White Rovers Bécon-les-Bruyères
17:15 CEST N. Tunmer Soccerball shade.svg
A. Tunmer Soccerball shade.svg		 Report 1
Report 2 		J. Wood Soccerball shade.svg
Roscoe Soccerball shade.svg		Stadium: Terrain de Bécon
Referee: Mr. Daumay (Club Français)
Note: Final of the first recognized amateur football championship held in France.
6 May 1894 USFSA final replay Standard 2–0 The White Rovers Bécon-les-Bruyères
17:30 CEST Hunter Soccerball shade.svg35'
Vines Soccerball shade.svg88'		 Report 1
Report 2 		Stadium: Terrain de Bécon
Referee: Mr. Daumay (Club Français)
Note: Replay final of the first recognized amateur football championship held in France.
6 April 1919 French Cup final CASG Paris 3–2 (a.e.t.) Olympique de Paris Paris
Devic Soccerball shade.svg20'
Hatzfeld Soccerball shade.svg110', 118'		 Report Darques Soccerball shade.svg60'
Dewaquez Soccerball shade.svg100'		Stadium: Parc des Princes
Attendance: 10,000
Referee: Armand Thibaudeau
Note: The first all-Paris final of the Coupe de France.
24 April 1921 French Cup final Red Star 2–1 Olympique de Paris Paris
Clavel Soccerball shade.svg53'
Naudin Soccerball shade.svg77'		 Report Landauer Soccerball shade.svg78'Stadium: Stade Pershing
Attendance: 18,000
Referee: Marcel Slawik
Note: The second all-Paris final of the Coupe de France.
1 April 1928 French Cup semi-finals Red Star 8–2 Stade Français Paris
O. Belin Soccerball shade.svg(o.g.)
Martin Soccerball shade.svgx2'
Lund Soccerball shade.svgx2'
Brouzes Soccerball shade.svg
Nicolas Soccerball shade.svgx2'		 Report 1
Report 2 		Soccerball shade.svgx2'Stadium: Stade Pershing
Attendance: 18,000
Note: One of the largest victories in the history of the Parisian derbies.
6 May 1928 French Cup final Red Star 3–1 CA Paris Colombes
Wartel Soccerball shade.svg8'
Lund Soccerball shade.svg33'
Brouzes Soccerball shade.svg61'		 Report Bertrand Soccerball shade.svg45'Stadium: Stade Yves-du-Manoir
Attendance: 30,000
Referee: Thomas Balvay
Note: The most recent all-Paris final of the Coupe de France to date.
11 November 1932 Division 1 Red Star 3–4 CA Paris Saint-Ouen-sur-Seine
Finamore Soccerball shade.svg20' (pen.), 40'
Díaz Soccerball shade.svg80'		 Report Colomb Soccerball shade.svg30'
Rose Soccerball shade.svg50', 55'
Guimbard Soccerball shade.svg60'		Stadium: Stade Bauer
Attendance: 7,000
Referee: Louis Raguin
Note: The first Parisian derby in the professional era.
30 April 1933 Division 1 Club Français 5–5 Racing Saint-Ouen-sur-Seine
Mercier Soccerball shade.svg6', 30', 40'
Laurent Soccerball shade.svg20', 80'		 Report Galey Soccerball shade.svg10' (pen.)
Ozenne Soccerball shade.svg50'
Berkessy Soccerball shade.svg60'
Delesse Soccerball shade.svg70', 86'		Stadium: Stade Bauer
Attendance: 3,000
Referee: Thomas Balvay
Note: One of the highest-scoring matches in the history of the Parisian derbies.
27 April 1946 French Cup semi-finals Red Star 3–2 Stade Français Fives, Nord
Grillon Soccerball shade.svg6' (o.g.)
Bersoullé Soccerball shade.svg33', 90'		 Report Mandaluniz Soccerball shade.svg8'
Luciano Soccerball shade.svg18'
Note: Semi-finals of the Coupe de France, with Red Star finishing as runners-up in the final.
6 March 1948 Division 1 Red Star 0–7 Stade Français Saint-Ouen-sur-Seine
Report Nyers Soccerball shade.svg3', 48'
Aston Soccerball shade.svg5'
Ujlaki Soccerball shade.svg33'
Simonyi Soccerball shade.svg40', 49'
Benbarek Soccerball shade.svg46'		Stadium: Stade Bauer
Attendance: 10,500
Referee: Jean Quaglia
Note: One of the largest victories in the history of the Parisian derbies.
6 June 1954 Relegation playoffs Stade Français 1–2 Racing Paris
Baucomont Soccerball shade.svg28' Report Courteaux Soccerball shade.svg78'
Curyl Soccerball shade.svg89'		Stadium: Parc des Princes
Attendance: 30,011
Referee: Jacques Devillers
Note: Memorable relegation playoffs, with Racing prevailing 4–3 on aggregate and sending Stade Français down to the second division.
12 June 1954 Relegation playoffs Racing 2–2
(4–3 agg.)		 Stade Français Colombes
Cisowski Soccerball shade.svg28'
Courteaux Soccerball shade.svg64'		 Report Saupin Soccerball shade.svg38'
Jönsson Soccerball shade.svg83'		Stadium: Stade Yves-du-Manoir
Attendance: 24,917
Referee: Louis Fauquemberghe
Note: Memorable relegation playoffs, with Racing prevailing 4–3 on aggregate and sending Stade Français down to the second division.

Modern derbies

PSG vs. Paris FC

PSG, the dominant club in Paris, in 2001. MilanPSG2001.jpg
PSG, the dominant club in Paris, in 2001.

The Paris derby is a French football rivalry contested between Paris Saint-Germain FC (PSG) and Paris FC (PFC), the two biggest professional clubs based in the city of Paris. PSG, founded in 1970 through the merger of Paris FC and Stade Saint-Germain, has grown into the dominant club in both the capital and French football, regularly competing in Ligue 1 and European competitions. Paris FC, which split from PSG in 1972, spent decades in the lower divisions before returning to the top flight in 2025, reigniting a local derby that had been dormant at the highest level for more than three decades. [29] [30] [31]

The rivalry traces its roots to the early history of football in the French capital, where historic clubs like Racing Club de France Football and Red Star FC once competed. PSG emerged from efforts by the French Football Federation (FFF) to create a major inner‑city club in the late 1960s, while Paris FC originally remained in Ligue 1 following the 1972 split. PSG quickly established itself as the capital's leading club, taking over the Parc des Princes and embarking on a period of sustained success that left Paris FC largely absent from the top tier. Consequently, first‑team meetings between the two were rare for decades. [29] [30] [31]

Following Paris FC's promotion to Ligue 1 in 2025, the Paris derby returned as a significant fixture in French football. The two clubs' home stadiums—PSG's Parc des Princes and PFC's Stade Jean-Bouin—are separated by only a short distance, creating one of the closest geographic derbies in world football. The first top‑flight meeting since 1990 took place on 4 January 2026 at the Parc des Princes, with PSG winning 2–1 in a closely contested match. A subsequent Coupe de France encounter saw Paris FC secure a 1–0 victory, marking PSG's first home defeat in the competition in several years. [31] [48] [49] [52]

Beyond the men's game, the Paris derby extends to women's football, where Paris Saint-Germain FC (women) and Paris FC (women) also compete at the highest level, adding further depth to the rivalry. Paris FC, formerly known as Juvisy, was the capital's dominant women's club in the 2000s, while PSG largely dominated the Paris derby during the 2010s. In the early 2020s, Paris FC established itself as the third force in the league, highlighted by their victory over PSG in the 2025 Coupe de France Féminine final. Together with PSG, they the only clubs capable of contesting the dominance of OL Lyonnes. [29] [56] [57] [58]

PSG vs. Red Star

As of 3 May 1975. [59] [60]
CompetitionMatchesWinsDrawsGoalsGoal difference
PSGRed StarPSGRed StarPSGRed Star
Ligue 1 420272+5−5
Ligue 2 21103300
Division 3 211054+1−1
Total8422159+6−6

   Paris Saint-Germain    Red Star    Draw

PSG vs. Racing

As of 25 February 1990. [61]
CompetitionMatchesWinsDrawsGoalsGoal difference
PSGRacingPSGRacingPSGRacing
Ligue 1 104331412+2−2
Total104331412+2−2

   Paris Saint-Germain    Racing    Draw

Racing vs. Paris FC

As of 27 March 2004. [62]
CompetitionMatchesWinsDrawsGoalsGoal difference
RacingPFCRacingPFCRacingPFC
Division 3 202003−3+3
Championnat National 632195+4−4
Championnat National 2 201101−1+1
Coupe de France 110021+1−1
Total114521110+1−1

   Racing    Paris FC    Draw

Paris FC vs. Red Star

As of 25 January 2025. [36] [63] [64] [65]
CompetitionMatchesWinsDrawsGoalsGoal difference
PFCRed StarPFCRed StarPFCRed Star
Ligue 1 220062+4−4
Ligue 2 10613178+9−9
Championnat National 10163413−9+9
Coupe de France 21102200
Coupe de la Ligue 10011100
Total2510873026+4−4

   Paris FC    Red Star    Draw

Red Star vs. Racing

As of 7 March 2009. [64] [65] [66]
CompetitionMatchesWinsDrawsGoalsGoal difference
Red StarRacingRed StarRacingRed StarRacing
Ligue 1 1421021731−14+14
Ligue 2 63301014−4+4
Division 3 211042+2−2
Championnat National 413035−2+2
Championnat National 2 21103300
Régional 1 211053+2−2
Coupe de France 521267−1+1
Coupe Charles Drago 303036−3+3
Total38112345171−20+20

   Red Star    Racing    Draw

See also

References

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