2026 Copa Sudamericana
| Copa CONMEBOL Sudamericana 2026 | |
|---|---|
The Estadio Metropolitano Roberto Meléndez in Barranquilla will host the final | |
| Tournament details | |
| Dates | 3 March – 21 November 2026 |
| Teams | 44+12 (from 10 associations) |
← 2025 2027 → | |
The 2026 Copa CONMEBOL Sudamericana will be 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 will begin 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:
- Argentina and Brazil: 6 berths each
- All other associations: 4 berths each
The entry stage is determined as follows:[3]
- 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[4] |
| Racing (Argentina 2) | 2025 Liga Profesional aggregate table 2nd best team not qualified for 2026 Copa Libertadores[4] | ||
| Deportivo Riestra (Argentina 3) | 2025 Liga Profesional aggregate table 3rd best team not qualified for 2026 Copa Libertadores[4] | ||
| San Lorenzo (Argentina 4) | 2025 Liga Profesional aggregate table 4th best team not qualified for 2026 Copa Libertadores[4] | ||
| Tigre (Argentina 5) | 2025 Liga Profesional aggregate table 5th best team not qualified for 2026 Copa Libertadores[4] | ||
| Barracas Central (Argentina 6) | 2025 Liga Profesional aggregate table 6th best team not qualified for 2026 Copa Libertadores[4] | ||
| Bolivia (4 berths) |
San Antonio Bulo Bulo (Bolivia 1) | First stage | 2025 División Profesional best team not qualified for 2026 Copa Libertadores[5] |
| Blooming (Bolivia 2) | 2025 División Profesional 2nd best team not qualified for 2026 Copa Libertadores[5] | ||
| Independiente Petrolero (Bolivia 3) | 2025 División Profesional 3rd best team not qualified for 2026 Copa Libertadores[5] | ||
| Guabirá (Bolivia 4) | 2025 División Profesional 4th best team not qualified for 2026 Copa Libertadores[5] | ||
| Brazil (6 berths) |
São Paulo (Brazil 1) | Group stage | 2025 Campeonato Brasileiro Série A best team not qualified for 2026 Copa Libertadores[6] |
| Grêmio (Brazil 2) | 2025 Campeonato Brasileiro Série A 2nd best team not qualified for 2026 Copa Libertadores[6] | ||
| Red Bull Bragantino (Brazil 3) | 2025 Campeonato Brasileiro Série A 3rd best team not qualified for 2026 Copa Libertadores[6] | ||
| Atlético Mineiro (Brazil 4) | 2025 Campeonato Brasileiro Série A 4th best team not qualified for 2026 Copa Libertadores[6] | ||
| Santos (Brazil 5) | 2025 Campeonato Brasileiro Série A 5th best team not qualified for 2026 Copa Libertadores[6] | ||
| Vasco da Gama (Brazil 6) | 2025 Campeonato Brasileiro Série A 6th best team not qualified for 2026 Copa Libertadores[6] | ||
| Chile (4 berths) |
Universidad de Chile (Chile 1) | First stage | 2025 Liga de Primera best team not qualified for 2026 Copa Libertadores[7] |
| Audax Italiano (Chile 2) | 2025 Liga de Primera 2nd best team not qualified for 2026 Copa Libertadores[7] | ||
| Palestino (Chile 3) | 2025 Liga de Primera 3rd best team not qualified for 2026 Copa Libertadores[7] | ||
| Cobresal (Chile 4) | 2025 Liga de Primera 4th best team not qualified for 2026 Copa Libertadores[7] | ||
| Colombia (4 berths) |
Atlético Nacional (Colombia 1) | First stage | 2025 Copa Colombia champions[8] |
| América de Cali (Colombia 2) | 2025 Primera A aggregate table 2nd best team not qualified for 2026 Copa Libertadores[8] | ||
| Atlético Bucaramanga (Colombia 3) | 2025 Primera A aggregate table 3rd best team not qualified for 2026 Copa Libertadores[8] | ||
| Millonarios (Colombia 4) | 2025 Primera A aggregate table 4th best team not qualified for 2026 Copa Libertadores[8] | ||
| Ecuador (4 berths) |
Orense (Ecuador 1) | First stage | 2025 Serie A best team not qualified for 2026 Copa Libertadores[9] |
| Libertad (Ecuador 2) | 2025 Serie A 2nd best team not qualified for 2026 Copa Libertadores[9] | ||
| Macará (Ecuador 3) | 2025 Serie A second hexagonal winners[9] | ||
| Deportivo Cuenca (Ecuador 4) | 2025 Serie A second hexagonal runners-up[9] | ||
| Paraguay (4 berths) |
Sportivo Trinidense (Paraguay 1) | First stage | 2025 Copa de Primera aggregate table best team not qualified for 2026 Copa Libertadores[10] |
| Nacional (Paraguay 2) | 2025 Copa de Primera aggregate table 2nd best team not qualified for 2026 Copa Libertadores[10] | ||
| Recoleta (Paraguay 3) | 2025 Copa de Primera aggregate table 3rd best team not qualified for 2026 Copa Libertadores[10] | ||
| Olimpia (Paraguay 4) | 2025 Copa de Primera aggregate table 4th best team not qualified for 2026 Copa Libertadores[10] | ||
| Peru (4 berths) |
Alianza Atlético (Peru 1) | First stage | 2025 Liga 1 aggregate table best team not qualified for 2026 Copa Libertadores[11] |
| Melgar (Peru 2) | 2025 Liga 1 aggregate table 2nd best team not qualified for 2026 Copa Libertadores[11] | ||
| Deportivo Garcilaso (Peru 3) | 2025 Liga 1 aggregate table 3rd best team not qualified for 2026 Copa Libertadores[11] | ||
| Cienciano (Peru 4) | 2025 Liga 1 aggregate table 4th best team not qualified for 2026 Copa Libertadores[11] | ||
| Uruguay (4 berths) |
Defensor Sporting (Uruguay 1) | First stage | 2025 Liga AUF Uruguaya aggregate table best team not qualified for 2026 Copa Libertadores[12] |
| Boston River (Uruguay 2) | 2025 Liga AUF Uruguaya aggregate table 2nd best team not qualified for 2026 Copa Libertadores[12] | ||
| Racing (Uruguay 3) | 2025 Liga AUF Uruguaya aggregate table 3rd best team not qualified for 2026 Copa Libertadores[12] | ||
| Montevideo City Torque (Uruguay 4) | 2025 Liga AUF Uruguaya aggregate table 4th best team not qualified for 2026 Copa Libertadores[12] | ||
| Venezuela (4 berths) |
Academia Puerto Cabello (Venezuela 1) | First stage | 2025 Clausura runners-up[13] |
| Monagas (Venezuela 2) | 2025 Liga FUTVE aggregate table 2nd best team not qualified for 2026 Copa Libertadores[13] | ||
| Caracas (Venezuela 3) | 2025 Liga FUTVE aggregate table 3rd best team not qualified for 2026 Copa Libertadores[13] | ||
| Metropolitanos (Venezuela 4) | 2025 Liga FUTVE aggregate table 4th best team not qualified for 2026 Copa Libertadores[13] |
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 |
|---|---|
| Group stage | |
| Third-placed teams in group stage | Entry stage |
| Knockout round play-offs | |
Schedule
The schedule of the competition is as follows:[1]
| Stage | Draw date | First leg | Second leg |
|---|---|---|---|
| First stage | 18 December 2025[14] | 3–5 March 2026 | |
| Group stage | 18 March 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 in Barranquilla, Colombia | ||
Draws
Buenos Aires
Santiago
Asunción
Cusco
Montevideo
Caracas
Asunción teams
Nacional
Olimpia
Recoleta
Sportivo Trinidense
Montevideo teams
Boston River
Defensor Sporting
Montevideo City Torque
Racing
Greater Buenos Aires teams
Barracas Central
Deportivo Riestra
Racing
River Plate
San Lorenzo
Tigre
Nacional
Olimpia
Recoleta
Sportivo Trinidense
Montevideo teams
Boston River
Defensor Sporting
Montevideo City Torque
Racing
Greater Buenos Aires teams
Barracas Central
Deportivo Riestra
Racing
River Plate
San Lorenzo
Tigre
Location of teams of the 2026 Copa Sudamericana.
Red: Group stage; White: First stage.
(L) Teams transferred from the 2026 Copa Libertadores.
Red: Group stage; 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.[14][15]
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 will host the match.[16]
First stage
In the first stage, each tie will be 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 will advance 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).
Group stage
The following 32 teams will be involved in the group stage (CONMEBOL Clubs ranking as of 15 December 2025 shown in parentheses):[17]
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See also
References
- ^ 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.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "Se viene una CONMEBOL Sudamericana más competitiva y representativa" [A more competitive and representative CONMEBOL Sudamericana is coming] (in Spanish). CONMEBOL. 2 October 2020.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ a b c d "Reglamento Liga BetPlay DIMAYOR 2025" [2025 Liga BetPlay DIMAYOR Regulations] (PDF) (in Spanish). Dimayor. Retrieved 1 September 2025.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Fase Preliminar CONMEBOL Sudamericana 2026: Los cruces" [2026 CONMEBOL Sudamericana Preliminary Stage: The matchups] (in Spanish). CONMEBOL. 18 December 2025. Retrieved 18 December 2025.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "Ranking de Clubes de la CONMEBOL 2026" [2026 CONMEBOL Clubs Ranking] (PDF) (in Spanish). CONMEBOL. 15 December 2025. Retrieved 17 December 2025.