Paris derby

The Paris derby (French: Derby de Paris), also referred to as Derby de Paris, Derby de la Capitale, or Le Derby Parisien, is a French football rivalry contested between Paris Saint-Germain FC (PSG) and Paris FC (PFC), the two largest professional clubs based in Paris, France. 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.

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.

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.

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 1990s and 2000s, while PSG largely dominated the Paris derby (women) 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.