Nova Iguaçu Football Club

Nova Iguaçu FC is a Rio de Janeiro club founded in 2003 that became a symbol of the rise of football in Baixada Fluminense. In 2024, it surprisingly won the Campeonato Carioca, defeating the historic big clubs of Rio de Janeiro.

History

Founded in 2003 in the city of Nova Iguaçu, in Baixada Fluminense, Nova Iguaçu FC began its journey in the lower divisions of Rio de Janeiro football, building a solid base of passionate fans and a consistent sports project over the years. The club quickly became a reference in Baixada Fluminense football, regularly competing in the intermediate divisions of the Campeonato Carioca and cultivating its own identity with the colors yellow and green, which are reminiscent of the oranges grown in the region — the origin of the nickname Laranjão. The great moment in the club's history came in 2024, when Nova Iguaçu FC reached the Campeonato Carioca final and won the unprecedented title, in one of the biggest surprises in Brazilian football. The campaign featured remarkable collective performances and was celebrated as a historic victory of the interior of Baixada Fluminense over the traditional axis of Rio's so-called big four. With expanding infrastructure and a well-structured youth development project, the club established itself as one of the most promising in Rio de Janeiro football, serving as inspiration for other clubs in the interior of the state seeking a place in the elite of regional football.