2026 Copa Sudamericana

2026 Copa Sudamericana
Copa CONMEBOL Sudamericana 2026
Tournament details
Dates3 March – 21 November 2026
Teams44+12 (from 10 associations)
Tournament statistics
Matches played16
Goals scored28 (1.75 per match)
Top scorer Rodrigo Contreras (2 goals)
2025
2027
All statistics correct as of 5 March 2026.

The 2026 Copa CONMEBOL Sudamericana is the 25th edition of the CONMEBOL Sudamericana (also referred to as the Copa Sudamericana), South America's secondary club football tournament organized by CONMEBOL. The competition began on 3 March and is scheduled to end on 21 November 2026,[1] with the final to be played at Estadio Metropolitano Roberto Meléndez in Barranquilla, Colombia.[2]

The winners of the 2026 Copa Sudamericana will earn the right to play against the winners of the 2026 Copa Libertadores in the 2027 Recopa Sudamericana. They will also automatically qualify for the 2027 Copa Libertadores group stage.

Argentine club Lanús are the titleholders, but since they qualified for the 2026 Copa Libertadores group stage as Copa Sudamericana champions, they will only be able to defend their title if they place third in their Copa Libertadores group.

Teams

The following 44 teams from the 10 CONMEBOL associations qualified for the tournament:[3]

  • Argentina and Brazil: 6 berths each
  • All other associations: 4 berths each

The entry stage is determined as follows:[4]

  • Group stage: 12 teams (teams from Argentina and Brazil)
  • First stage: 32 teams (teams from all other associations)
Association Team (Berth) Entry stage Qualification method
 Argentina
(6 berths)
River Plate (Argentina 1) Group stage 2025 Liga Profesional aggregate table best team not qualified for 2026 Copa Libertadores[5]
Racing (Argentina 2) 2025 Liga Profesional aggregate table 2nd best team not qualified for 2026 Copa Libertadores[5]
Deportivo Riestra (Argentina 3) 2025 Liga Profesional aggregate table 3rd best team not qualified for 2026 Copa Libertadores[5]
San Lorenzo (Argentina 4) 2025 Liga Profesional aggregate table 4th best team not qualified for 2026 Copa Libertadores[5]
Tigre (Argentina 5) 2025 Liga Profesional aggregate table 5th best team not qualified for 2026 Copa Libertadores[5]
Barracas Central (Argentina 6) 2025 Liga Profesional aggregate table 6th best team not qualified for 2026 Copa Libertadores[5]
 Bolivia
(4 berths)
San Antonio Bulo Bulo (Bolivia 1) First stage 2025 División Profesional best team not qualified for 2026 Copa Libertadores[6]
Blooming (Bolivia 2) 2025 División Profesional 2nd best team not qualified for 2026 Copa Libertadores[6]
Independiente Petrolero (Bolivia 3) 2025 División Profesional 3rd best team not qualified for 2026 Copa Libertadores[6]
Guabirá (Bolivia 4) 2025 División Profesional 4th best team not qualified for 2026 Copa Libertadores[6]
 Brazil
(6 berths)
São Paulo (Brazil 1) Group stage 2025 Campeonato Brasileiro Série A best team not qualified for 2026 Copa Libertadores[7]
Grêmio (Brazil 2) 2025 Campeonato Brasileiro Série A 2nd best team not qualified for 2026 Copa Libertadores[7]
Red Bull Bragantino (Brazil 3) 2025 Campeonato Brasileiro Série A 3rd best team not qualified for 2026 Copa Libertadores[7]
Atlético Mineiro (Brazil 4) 2025 Campeonato Brasileiro Série A 4th best team not qualified for 2026 Copa Libertadores[7]
Santos (Brazil 5) 2025 Campeonato Brasileiro Série A 5th best team not qualified for 2026 Copa Libertadores[7]
Vasco da Gama (Brazil 6) 2025 Campeonato Brasileiro Série A 6th best team not qualified for 2026 Copa Libertadores[7]
 Chile
(4 berths)
Universidad de Chile (Chile 1) First stage 2025 Liga de Primera best team not qualified for 2026 Copa Libertadores[8]
Audax Italiano (Chile 2) 2025 Liga de Primera 2nd best team not qualified for 2026 Copa Libertadores[8]
Palestino (Chile 3) 2025 Liga de Primera 3rd best team not qualified for 2026 Copa Libertadores[8]
Cobresal (Chile 4) 2025 Liga de Primera 4th best team not qualified for 2026 Copa Libertadores[8]
 Colombia
(4 berths)
Atlético Nacional (Colombia 1) First stage 2025 Copa Colombia champions[9]
América de Cali (Colombia 2) 2025 Primera A aggregate table 2nd best team not qualified for 2026 Copa Libertadores[9]
Atlético Bucaramanga (Colombia 3) 2025 Primera A aggregate table 3rd best team not qualified for 2026 Copa Libertadores[9]
Millonarios (Colombia 4) 2025 Primera A aggregate table 4th best team not qualified for 2026 Copa Libertadores[9]
 Ecuador
(4 berths)
Orense (Ecuador 1) First stage 2025 Serie A best team not qualified for 2026 Copa Libertadores[10]
Libertad (Ecuador 2) 2025 Serie A 2nd best team not qualified for 2026 Copa Libertadores[10]
Macará (Ecuador 3) 2025 Serie A second hexagonal winners[10]
Deportivo Cuenca (Ecuador 4) 2025 Serie A second hexagonal runners-up[10]
 Paraguay
(4 berths)
Sportivo Trinidense (Paraguay 1) First stage 2025 Copa de Primera aggregate table best team not qualified for 2026 Copa Libertadores[11]
Nacional (Paraguay 2) 2025 Copa de Primera aggregate table 2nd best team not qualified for 2026 Copa Libertadores[11]
Recoleta (Paraguay 3) 2025 Copa de Primera aggregate table 3rd best team not qualified for 2026 Copa Libertadores[11]
Olimpia (Paraguay 4) 2025 Copa de Primera aggregate table 4th best team not qualified for 2026 Copa Libertadores[11]
 Peru
(4 berths)
Alianza Atlético (Peru 1) First stage 2025 Liga 1 aggregate table best team not qualified for 2026 Copa Libertadores[12]
Melgar (Peru 2) 2025 Liga 1 aggregate table 2nd best team not qualified for 2026 Copa Libertadores[12]
Deportivo Garcilaso (Peru 3) 2025 Liga 1 aggregate table 3rd best team not qualified for 2026 Copa Libertadores[12]
Cienciano (Peru 4) 2025 Liga 1 aggregate table 4th best team not qualified for 2026 Copa Libertadores[12]
 Uruguay
(4 berths)
Defensor Sporting (Uruguay 1) First stage 2025 Liga AUF Uruguaya aggregate table best team not qualified for 2026 Copa Libertadores[13]
Boston River (Uruguay 2) 2025 Liga AUF Uruguaya aggregate table 2nd best team not qualified for 2026 Copa Libertadores[13]
Racing (Uruguay 3) 2025 Liga AUF Uruguaya aggregate table 3rd best team not qualified for 2026 Copa Libertadores[13]
Montevideo City Torque (Uruguay 4) 2025 Liga AUF Uruguaya aggregate table 4th best team not qualified for 2026 Copa Libertadores[13]
 Venezuela
(4 berths)
Academia Puerto Cabello (Venezuela 1) First stage 2025 Clausura runners-up[14]
Monagas (Venezuela 2) 2025 Liga FUTVE aggregate table 2nd best team not qualified for 2026 Copa Libertadores[14]
Caracas (Venezuela 3) 2025 Liga FUTVE aggregate table 3rd best team not qualified for 2026 Copa Libertadores[14]
Metropolitanos (Venezuela 4) 2025 Liga FUTVE aggregate table 4th best team not qualified for 2026 Copa Libertadores[14]

A further 12 teams eliminated from the 2026 Copa Libertadores will be transferred to the Copa Sudamericana, entering the group stage and the knockout round play-offs.

Teams eliminated in third stage Entry stage
Juventud Group stage
O'Higgins
Carabobo
Botafogo
Third-placed teams in group stage Entry stage
Knockout round play-offs

Schedule

The schedule of the competition is as follows:[1]

Schedule for 2026 Copa Sudamericana
Stage Draw date First leg Second leg
First stage 18 December 2025[15] 3–5 March 2026
Group stage 19 March 2026
  • Matchday 1: 7–9 April 2026
  • Matchday 2: 14–16 April 2026
  • Matchday 3: 28–30 April 2026
  • Matchday 4: 5–7 May 2026
  • Matchday 5: 19–21 May 2026
  • Matchday 6: 26–28 May 2026
Knockout round play-offs No draw 21–23 July 2026 28–30 July 2026
Round of 16 3 June 2026 11–13 August 2026 18–20 August 2026
Quarter-finals 8–10 September 2026 15–17 September 2026
Semi-finals 13–15 October 2026 20–22 October 2026
Final 21 November 2026 at Estadio Metropolitano Roberto Meléndez, Barranquilla

Draws

Location of teams of the 2026 Copa Sudamericana.
Brown: Group A; Red: Group B; Orange: Group C;
Yellow: Group D; Green: Group E; Blue: Group F;
Purple: Group G; Pink: Group H; White: First stage.
(L) Teams transferred from the 2026 Copa Libertadores.

The draw for the first stage was held on 18 December 2025, 12:00 PYT (UTC−3), at the CONMEBOL Convention Centre in Luque, Paraguay.[15][16]

For the first stage, the 32 teams involved were divided into eight pots according to their national association. The 32 teams were drawn into 16 ties, with the four teams from each national association being drawn against a rival from the same association in two ties per association. The first team drawn in each tie hosted the match.[17]

The draw for the group stage was held on 19 March 2026, 20:00 PYT (UTC−3), at the CONMEBOL Convention Centre in Luque, Paraguay.[18][19]

Teams were seeded by their CONMEBOL Clubs ranking as of 15 December 2025 (shown in parentheses),[20] taking into account the following three factors:[21]

  1. Performance in the last 10 years, taking into account Copa Libertadores and Copa Sudamericana results in the period 2016–2025.
  2. Historical coefficient, taking into account Copa Libertadores and Copa Sudamericana results in the period 1960–2015 and 2002–2015 respectively.
  3. Local tournament champion, with bonus points awarded to domestic league champions of the last 10 years.

For the group stage, the 32 teams were drawn into eight groups (Groups A–H) of four containing a team from each of the four pots. The four losers of the Copa Libertadores third stage were seeded into Pot 4. Teams from the same association could not be drawn into the same group.[22]

Group stage draw
Pot 1 Pot 2 Pot 3 Pot 4
Notes
  1. ^
    CLQ3 The Copa Libertadores third stage losers were seeded in Pot 4.

First stage

In the first stage, each tie was played on a single-leg basis, with the winner being decided in a penalty shoot-out in case of a draw after 90 minutes.

The 16 winners of the first stage advanced to the group stage to join the 12 teams directly qualified for that stage (six from Argentina and six from Brazil), and four teams transferred from the Copa Libertadores (the four teams eliminated in the third stage of qualifying).

Team 1ScoreTeam 2
Independiente Petrolero 0–0 (3–2 p) Guabirá
Blooming 3–0 San Antonio Bulo Bulo
Universidad de Chile 1–2 Palestino
Cobresal 1–1 (2–3 p) Audax Italiano
Atlético Nacional 1–3 Millonarios
América de Cali 2–1 Atlético Bucaramanga
Deportivo Cuenca 3–0 Libertad
Orense 0–1 Macará
Nacional 1–1 (4–5 p) Recoleta
Sportivo Trinidense 0–1 Olimpia
Alianza Atlético 2–0 Deportivo Garcilaso
Cienciano 1–1 (5–4 p) Melgar
Montevideo City Torque 1–0 Defensor Sporting
Boston River 1–0 Racing
Academia Puerto Cabello 0–0 (5–3 p) Monagas
Caracas 0–0 (4–3 p) Metropolitanos

Group stage

In the group stage, each group is played on a home-and-away round-robin basis. The teams are ranked according to the following criteria: 1. Points (3 points for a win, 1 point for a draw, and 0 points for a loss); 2. Head-to-head points; 3. Head-to-head goal difference; 4. Head-to-head goals scored; 5. Goal difference; 6. Goals scored; 7. Red cards; 8. Yellow cards; 9. Drawing of lots (Regulations Article 2.4.3).[3]

The winners of each group will advance to the round of 16 of the final stages, whilst the runners-up of each group will advance to the knockout round play-offs of the final stages.

Group A

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification AME TIG MAC AAS
1 América de Cali 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Round of 16 19 May 28 May 15 Apr
2 Tigre 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Knockout round play-offs 30 Apr 16 Apr 28 May
3 Macará 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 9 Apr 6 May 21 May
4 Alianza Atlético 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 6 May 7 Apr 30 Apr
First match(es) will be played: 7 April 2026. Source: CONMEBOL

Group B

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification CAM CIE APC JUV
1 Atlético Mineiro 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Round of 16 21 May 27 May 16 Apr
2 Cienciano 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Knockout round play-offs 29 Apr 16 Apr 27 May
3 Academia Puerto Cabello 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 8 Apr 5 May 21 May
4 Juventud 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 May 9 Apr 29 Apr
First match(es) will be played: 8 April 2026. Source: CONMEBOL

Group C

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification SPA MIL BOR OHI
1 São Paulo 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Round of 16 19 May 26 May 14 Apr
2 Millonarios 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Knockout round play-offs 28 Apr 14 Apr 26 May
3 Boston River 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 7 Apr 7 May 20 May
4 O'Higgins 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 7 May 7 Apr 28 Apr
First match(es) will be played: 7 April 2026. Source: CONMEBOL

Group D

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification SAN SLO CUE REC
1 Santos 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Round of 16 20 May 26 May 14 Apr
2 San Lorenzo 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Knockout round play-offs 28 Apr 16 Apr 26 May
3 Deportivo Cuenca 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 8 Apr 5 May 19 May
4 Recoleta 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 May 8 Apr 28 Apr
First match(es) will be played: 8 April 2026. Source: CONMEBOL

Group E

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification RAC CAR IPE BOT
1 Racing 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Round of 16 21 May 27 May 15 Apr
2 Caracas 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Knockout round play-offs 29 Apr 15 Apr 27 May
3 Independiente Petrolero 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 7 Apr 5 May 20 May
4 Botafogo 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 6 May 9 Apr 28 Apr
First match(es) will be played: 7 April 2026. Source: CONMEBOL

Group F

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification GRE PAL MCT DRI
1 Grêmio 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Round of 16 20 May 26 May 14 Apr
2 Palestino 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Knockout round play-offs 29 Apr 14 Apr 26 May
3 Montevideo City Torque 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 8 Apr 6 May 19 May
4 Deportivo Riestra 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 May 8 Apr 29 Apr
First match(es) will be played: 8 April 2026. Source: CONMEBOL

Group G

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification OLI VAS AUD BAR
1 Olimpia 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Round of 16 20 May 27 May 15 Apr
2 Vasco da Gama 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Knockout round play-offs 30 Apr 14 Apr 27 May
3 Audax Italiano 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 8 Apr 6 May 19 May
4 Barracas Central 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 6 May 7 Apr 28 Apr
First match(es) will be played: 7 April 2026. Source: CONMEBOL

Group H

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification RIV RBB BLO CBO
1 River Plate 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Round of 16 20 May 27 May 15 Apr
2 Red Bull Bragantino 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Knockout round play-offs 30 Apr 16 Apr 27 May
3 Blooming 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 9 Apr 7 May 21 May
4 Carabobo 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 7 May 9 Apr 30 Apr
First match(es) will be played: 9 April 2026. Source: CONMEBOL

Statistics

As of 5 March 2026

Top scorers

Rank Player Team 1S GS1 GS2 GS3 GS4 GS5 GS6 KPO1 KPO2 ⅛F1 ⅛F2 QF1 QF2 SF1 SF2  F  Total
1 Rodrigo Contreras Millonarios 2 2

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "Calendario de la CONMEBOL Libertadores, CONMEBOL Sudamericana y CONMEBOL Recopa 2026" [Schedule for the 2026 CONMEBOL Libertadores, CONMEBOL Sudamericana and CONMEBOL Recopa] (in Spanish). CONMEBOL. 28 July 2025. Retrieved 1 September 2025.
  2. ^ "Oficial: Barranquilla será sede de la final de Copa Sudamericana 2026" [Official: Barranquilla will host the 2026 Copa Sudamericana final] (in Spanish). ESPN. 28 November 2025. Retrieved 28 November 2025.
  3. ^ a b "Manual de Clubes CONMEBOL Sudamericana 2026" [2026 CONMEBOL Sudamericana Clubs Handbook] (PDF) (in Spanish). CONMEBOL. Retrieved 17 March 2026.
  4. ^ "Se viene una CONMEBOL Sudamericana más competitiva y representativa" [A more competitive and representative CONMEBOL Sudamericana is coming] (in Spanish). CONMEBOL. 2 October 2020.
  5. ^ a b c d e f "Reglamento de Torneos de la Temporada 2025 Primera División Liga Profesional de Fútbol de AFA" [Liga Profesional de Fútbol de AFA – Tournament Regulations for the 2025 First Division Season] (PDF) (in Spanish). Liga Profesional de Fútbol. Retrieved 1 September 2025.
  6. ^ a b c d Bolivian Football Federation (29 March 2025). "Convocatoria Torneos de División Profesional 2025" [2025 División Profesional Tournaments Callup]. futboldebolivia.net (in Spanish). Fútbol Boliviano. Retrieved 1 September 2025.
  7. ^ a b c d e f "Regulamento Específico da Competição Brasileiro Série A 2025" [Specific Regulations for the 2025 Brasileiro Série A Competition] (PDF) (in Brazilian Portuguese). Brazilian Football Confederation. 12 February 2025. Retrieved 1 September 2025.
  8. ^ a b c d "Bases Campeonato Nacional de Primera División Temporada 2025" [Campeonato Nacional de Primera División 2025 Season Regulations] (in Spanish). ANFP. Retrieved 1 September 2025.
  9. ^ a b c d "Reglamento Liga BetPlay DIMAYOR 2025" [2025 Liga BetPlay DIMAYOR Regulations] (PDF) (in Spanish). Dimayor. Retrieved 1 September 2025.
  10. ^ a b c d "Así se juega el campeonato ecuatoriano de fútbol 2025. ¿Cómo es el sistema?" [This is how the 2025 Ecuadorian football championship is played. How is the system?] (in Spanish). Bendito Fútbol. 24 August 2025. Retrieved 1 September 2025.
  11. ^ a b c d "Reglamento de la División de Honor 2025" [2025 División de Honor Regulations] (PDF) (in Spanish). Paraguayan Football Association. Retrieved 1 September 2025.
  12. ^ a b c d "Reglamento Liga 1 Te Apuesto 2025" [2025 Liga 1 Te Apuesto Regulations] (PDF) (in Spanish). Peruvian Football Federation. Retrieved 1 September 2025.
  13. ^ a b c d "Régimen de disputa de los torneos oficiales - vigente desde el 2018" [Regime of play for official tournaments – in force since 2018] (in Spanish). AUF. Retrieved 30 October 2024.
  14. ^ a b c d "Guía completa de la Liga FUTVE 2025: equipos, formato y clasificación a las copas" [Complete guide to the 2025 Liga FUTVE: teams, format, and cup qualification] (in Spanish). DSports. 24 January 2025. Retrieved 1 September 2025.
  15. ^ a b "Conmebol sorteará las fases preliminares de Libertadores y Sudamericana 2026 el 18 de diciembre" [CONMEBOL will draw the preliminary rounds of the 2026 Libertadores and Sudamericana on 18 December] (in Spanish). El Universo. 10 December 2025. Retrieved 10 December 2025.
  16. ^ "Fase Preliminar CONMEBOL Sudamericana 2026: Los cruces" [2026 CONMEBOL Sudamericana Preliminary Stage: The matchups] (in Spanish). CONMEBOL. 18 December 2025. Retrieved 18 December 2025.
  17. ^ "Pautas de sorteo para la CONMEBOL Libertadores y CONMEBOL Sudamericana 2026" [Draw guidelines for the 2026 CONMEBOL Libertadores and CONMEBOL Sudamericana] (in Spanish). CONMEBOL. 17 December 2025. Retrieved 17 December 2025.
  18. ^ "¿Cuándo es el sorteo de la fase de grupos de la CONMEBOL Sudamericana 2026?" [When is the 2026 CONMEBOL Sudamericana group stage draw?] (in Spanish). ESPN. 16 March 2026. Retrieved 17 March 2026.
  19. ^ "For The Great Conquest: these are the groups for the 2026 CONMEBOL Sudamericana". CONMEBOL. 19 March 2026. Retrieved 19 March 2026.
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  21. ^ "RANKING DE CLUBES DE LA CONMEBOL 2021 SISTEMA DE PUNTAJE" (PDF) (in Spanish). CONMEBOL. 2 February 2021. Archived from the original (PDF) on 30 August 2021.
  22. ^ "Lo que hay que saber: Todo sobre el sorteo de la Fase de Grupos" [What you need to know: Everything about the Group Stage draw]. CONMEBOL. 13 March 2026. Retrieved 17 March 2026.