The São Paulo banner that saved lives | OneFootball

A São Paulo initiative has turned the world's largest football banner into a lifeline for the city's most vulnerable, according to Arquibancada Tricolor. Originally designed by sponsor Superbet for the club’s fans and unfurled during the 3-1 win over Corinthians at MorumBIS, the massive 13,000-square-metre mosaic has now found a new purpose.

Partnering with the Salvation Army, São Paulo dismantled and repurposed the fabric to create 2,000 sleeping bags, which were distributed to people experiencing homelessness across the city in an event held this Friday. The club’s management and lead sponsor describe the action as a sign of ongoing commitment to addressing social issues well beyond the stadium.

The original banner gained recognition for covering the MorumBIS’ entire upper tier, symbolizing unity among supporters during one of their most notable matches. Now, it represents a different form of solidarity—transcending the boundaries of sport to address immediate needs within the local community.

São Paulo’s transformation of this supporter icon into essential aid materializes their stated goal of using football’s reach for broader positive impact. The club, together with Superbet, intends the project to highlight the potential for sporting institutions and sponsors to mobilize resources for societal benefit when possible.

This action comes at a time when São Paulo’s profile is high on the pitch, but also shows a deliberate effort to channel that attention toward off-field concerns. While the team looks to maintain its competitive momentum in the Brasileirão, examples like this underline a desire within the organization to create lasting connections away from matchdays.

(Sources: Arquibancada Tricolor)

Photo by Alexandre Schneider/Getty Images