Grêmio Atlético Farroupilha

Grêmio Atlético Farroupilha is a club from Pelotas, in Rio Grande do Sul, founded on April 26, 1926. It was born linked to the 9th Infantry Regiment of the Army and won the Rio Grande do Sul State Championship in 1935.

History

The club was founded on April 26, 1926 by a general, 14 officers of lower ranks and 2 soldiers from the 9th Infantry Regiment of the Brazilian Army, with the name Grêmio Atlético do 9º Regimento. In 1941, a decree by Getúlio Vargas prohibited military units from lending their names to civilian clubs, and the club adopted its current name. The greatest achievement came in 1935. As city champion, the team defeated Novo Hamburgo 3-2 in the semifinal of the Rio Grande do Sul State Championship and faced Grêmio in the final: lost the first match 3-1, won the second 3-0 and closed the series with 2-1. The squad returned to Pelotas aboard the ship Itassucê and was greeted with celebration. Farroupilha is the historic rival of Brasil de Pelotas, in the Bra-Far classic, and of Pelotas, in the Far-Pel classic. For decades it played its home games at Nicolau Fico Stadium, in the Fragata neighborhood, whose demolition began in 2025 due to structural deterioration. The club then proceeded to build the Arena Ninho do Cardeal, in the Três Vendas neighborhood, and did not compete in the Rio Grande do Sul Third Division in 2025 because the new stadium was not yet ready.