Copa Sudamericana

Last Updated: 16 march 2026

About the Copa Sudamericana

The CONMEBOL Sudamericana (Copa Sudamericana) is an international football competition for clubs from the countries that are members of CONMEBOL. Copa Sudamericana is generally considered to be the second most important football tournament after the Copa Libertadores in South America. There are 56 teams participating in the tournament.

Copa Sudamericana 2026 season

The 2026 Copa Sudamericana will be the 25th edition of one of South America’s premier club tournaments. Competition is held under the auspices of the South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL) and brings together clubs from ten countries across the continent. The winner of the tournament earns a spot in the group stage of the following season’s Copa Libertadores, as well as the South American Super Cup (Recopa Sudamericana).

When will it take place?

The 2026 season began on March 3 with preliminary round matches and will run until November 21, when the final will take place. The decisive match is scheduled at the Estadio Metropolitano Roberto Meléndez in Barranquilla, Colombia. Tournament consists of several stages: teams first participate in preliminary matches, then the top clubs advance to the group stage, which runs from April to the end of May. The competition then continues with a knockout stage, where teams play through to the final.

Who participates?

The tournament features 56 clubs. Most teams qualify through their national championships, while some teams advance to the tournament through the Copa Libertadores group stage. This format makes the competition more competitive and allows strong clubs to continue competing on the international stage.

This season, the tournament will once again feature teams from Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Uruguay, Paraguay, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, and Venezuela.

Tournament Favorites

Well-known participants in the 2026 tournament include clubs such as River Plate from Argentina, Brazilian teams Atlético Mineiro, São Paulo, and Grêmio, Argentina’s Racing Club, Paraguay’s Olimpia, as well as Santos and Colombia’s América de Cali.

Traditionally, the main battle for the trophy is between clubs from Brazil and Argentina, which most often reach the final stages of the tournament. Among the top contenders for the 2026 championship are Atlético Mineiro, River Plate, São Paulo, Racing Club, and Grêmio. However, clubs from Colombia, Paraguay, and Uruguay are also capable of posing serious competition and regularly make it to the playoffs.

History of the Copa Sudamericana

The first draw of the CONMEBOL Sudamericana took place in 2002.

In 2003, thanks to sponsorship by Nissan Motors, the name of the Cup was changed to Copa Nissan Sudamericana. That year, the tournament was joined by Brazilian clubs that could not participate in the first tournament due to overlapping match dates.

In 2005, clubs from CONCACAF America and Mexico were invited to participate in the Cup.

The winner of the 2006 tournament was C.F. Pachuca from Mexico.

In 2017, there was a change in the timing of the tournament, with the preliminary rounds taking place in the first half of the year. In the same year, the name was changed to the modern-day CONMEBOL Sudamericana.

Previous winners of the Copa Sudamericana

2027 Copa Sudamericana

There is currently no official information about the location and dates of the Copa Sudamericana in the 2027 season. Traditionally, the tournament, known as the Copa Sudamericana, is organized by the South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL) and has been held annually since 2002. The tournament usually takes place throughout the year, starting in March or April, with the finals in November or December.

CONMEBOL official website

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