Eliminations, heavy debt and elections: how crises at Corinthians, Santos and São Paulo align | OneFootball

Three of São Paulo state’s giants, Corinthians, Santos and São Paulo, are in parallel crises after midweek exits from continental competitions, staring at a trophyless year and heated club politics.

According to Globo.com, all sit well off the Brasileirão pace, the only competition left in 2026, with Corinthians facing 11 matches and Santos and São Paulo 12.

All three have delayed wages or image rights and heavy debts. Corinthians still carry two active transfer bans, a sanction that also hit Santos and São Paulo until weeks ago. Latest figures show Corinthians with a R$ 246 million deficit to June and around R$ 2.8 billion owed, Santos with a R$ 119.6 million first-half deficit and R$ 1.2 billion debt, and São Paulo ending 2025 owing R$ 858 million, with no 2026 balance published.

At Corinthians, Fernando Diniz has a 50% record since April and a run of five league defeats has them 14th, after exits to Internacional in the Copa do Brasil and Estudiantes in the Libertadores. Cuca’s Santos are at 52%, out to Palmeiras and Atlético-MG in quarter-finals, five unbeaten and 10th, while Dorival Júnior’s São Paulo sit 12th with a 37.5% return after falling to Boca Juniors in the Sudamericana.

Club elections loom. Corinthians vote on 28 November, with Osmar Stabile’s re-election unclear and at least three candidates expected. Santos have no date, Marcelo Teixeira undecided, while Maurício Maruca has declared and Ivan Luduvice plans to run. At São Paulo, councillors elect the next president in early December.

Source: Globo.com

“Artificial intelligence was used to assist in creating this article based on reporting from the original source quoted.”