Santos in talks to play Pacaembu friendly after more than six years | OneFootball

According to Diario Do Peixe, Santos are in talks to play União São João in a friendly at Pacaembu on Saturday four July, keeping the squad active during the World Cup pause after cancelling a Portugal tour.

The club had lined up games with Gil Vicente and Vitória de Guimarães, plus a training match with Santa Clara, and had also discussed Benfica, but dropped the trip amid possible changes to Brazil's calendar.

The CBF signalled it could bring forward Brasileirão fixtures because of the World Cup run-in. With Botafogo on 16 July and Copa Sudamericana play-offs against Universidad Central of Venezuela on 21 and 28 July, the board felt travel to Portugal might hinder preparation.

Santos have since sought domestic opponents, with União São João the leading option, and talks to stage it at Pacaembu ongoing.

It would be their first match at the ground since 29 February 2020, a 0-0 draw with Palmeiras, the last before the stadium closed for modernisation.

Pacaembu was refurbished by concessionaire Allegra Pacaembu and reopened in 2024, yet plans to make it a second home faded amid a synthetic pitch, a reduced capacity from about 39,000 to roughly 26,000 after the Tobogã was demolished, and hurdles around major-event approvals. Santos have instead favoured occasional dates at Morumbis, Neo Química Arena and Nubank Arena.

Source: Diario Do Peixe