Pernambucano - 1 (Brazil) 2026/27

The Campeonato Pernambucano is the premier state football competition in Pernambuco, Brazil. It is organised by the Federação Pernambucana de Futebol (FPF) and sits at Level 1 of the regional football structure. The tournament has a long history, having been founded in 1915 before transitioning to a professional format in 1937.

For the 2026 campaign, the competition has undergone a structural reform. The traditional multi-stage pyramid has been replaced by a single eight-team league. This new format simplifies the schedule, focusing on a round-robin system where every club plays each other. The primary consequence of this change is the relegation of the bottom-placed team to a preliminary stage for the following season, a departure from the previous system which saw the last two sides drop to Série A2.

The landscape of the league is dominated by a group known as the "Trio de Ferro," comprising Sport Recife, Santa Cruz, and Náutico. These three clubs are the most successful in the tournament's history. Sport Recife holds the record for the most titles, while Náutico achieved a historic six consecutive championships between 1963 and 1968. The current champion is Sport Recife, who secured the 2025 title against Retrô FC Brasil.

The competition features several high-profile fixtures that define local culture. Matches between Sport and Náutico are referred to as the "Clássico dos Clássicos," while encounters between Santa Cruz and Náutico are known as the "Clássico das Emoções." These derbies frequently draw large crowds, with historical attendance figures reaching over 80,000 for matches in the late 1990s. The league also serves as a qualification route for national competitions, including the Copa do Brasil and Série D.