Atlético dos Arcos was formed in 2012 in Arcos de Valdevez by supporters of the defunct Clube Atlético de Valdevez, which had ceased activity in 2009 because of debt, and plays at the Estádio Municipal da Coutada. The club won promotion to the district first division in its debut 2012-13 season and later reached the national pyramid, competing in the Campeonato de Portugal in 2024-25. It is generally the only club from the Viana do Castelo district in the national championships and fields a squad drawn largely from locally born players.