Bahia

Bahia were founded in Salvador on 1 January 1931 by former players of Associacao Atletica da Bahia and Clube Bahiano de Tenis, whose football departments had closed the year before. The colours reflect those roots: blue for the Associacao Atletica, white for the tennis club and red for the state flag. The club is nicknamed Esquadrao de Aco, the Steel Squad. Home is the Arena Fonte Nova, opened in 2013 where the old Fonte Nova stood and known since October 2026 as the Arena Acelen Fonte Nova.

Bahia have been Brazilian champions twice. They won the 1959 Taca Brasil by beating Santos 3-1 in a deciding match at the Maracana in March 1960, which made them Brazil's entrant in the first Copa Libertadores later that year. The 1988 title, under coach Evaristo de Macedo, was settled in February 1989: Bobo scored both goals in a 2-1 home win over Internacional, and a 0-0 draw in Porto Alegre followed. Bahia have also won the Copa do Nordeste five times, in 2001, 2002, 2017, 2021 and 2025.