Paris FC: The Parisian derby is back!
Capital city derbies
Football followers regularly hear about capital city derbies like El Derbi Madrileño between Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid, Derby della Capitale between Roma and Lazio, North London derby between Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur, Superclásico between Boca Juniors and River Plate. But have we ever heard of a Parisian derby in football? Though Paris is renowned for a rich blend of culture, history, art, and in producing world class football talent, it struggled to produce a Ligue 1 quality football club to compete against Paris Saint-Germain.
Arnault's stake in Paris FC
Founded in 1969, Paris FC merged with Stade Saint-Germain to form Paris Saint-Germain in 1970 and eventually spun off in 1972. They were playing in Ligue 2, the lower tiers of French football till 2025. In 2024, French billionaire Bernard Arnault, who is the chairman and CEO of LVMH Moët Hennessy – Louis Vuitton SE, invested in the club with a minority ownership by Red Bull. With the backing from Arnault, Paris FC secured promotion to Ligue 1 in 2025. Paris FC is now back in Ligue 1 following an absence of 46 years.
Parisian Derby
With Paris FC's promotion to Ligue 1, the stage is set for a Parisian derby since 1990. The two stadiums, Parc des Princes and Stade Charléty, are separated by just the width of a street, Rau Claude Farrère. City Paris not had two clubs in Ligue 1 since 1990 after the relegation of Racing Paris 1. The Parisian derby is back!