Cruzeiro (Portuguese meaning the Southern Cross, the Brazilian national symbol) is a municipality in the state of So Paulo in Brazil. It is located about 220 km (137 mi) from the state capital.

The club was founded on 2 January 1921, by sportsmen from the Italian colony of Belo Horizonte as Societ Sportiva Palestra Itlia. As a result of the Second World War, the Brazilian federal government banned the use of any symbols referring to the Axis powers in 1942.