2026 Copa Libertadores group stage
The 2026 Copa Libertadores group stage will be played from 7 April to 28 May 2026.[1] A total of 32 teams will compete in the group stage to decide the 16 places in the final stages of the 2026 Copa Libertadores.[2]
Draw
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.[3][4]
Teams were seeded by their CONMEBOL Clubs ranking as of 15 December 2025 (shown in parentheses),[5] taking into account the following three factors:[6]
- Performance in the last 10 years, taking into account Copa Libertadores and Copa Sudamericana results in the period 2016–2025.
- Historical coefficient, taking into account Copa Libertadores and Copa Sudamericana results in the period 1960–2015 and 2002–2015 respectively.
- 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. Teams from the same association could not be drawn into the same group, excluding the four winners of the third stage, which were allocated to Pot 4 and could be drawn into the same group with another team from the same association.[7]
| Pot 1 | Pot 2 | Pot 3 | Pot 4 |
|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|
|
- Notes
- ^ TH The defending Copa Libertadores champions were automatically allocated to Group A and the position A1.
- ^ CS The defending Copa Sudamericana champions were seeded in Pot 2.
- ^ Q3 The third stage winners were seeded in Pot 4.
The following are the four winners of the third stage of qualifying which joined the 28 direct entrants in the group stage.
| Match | Third stage winners |
|---|---|
| G1 | Independiente Medellín |
| G2 | Deportes Tolima |
| G3 | Sporting Cristal |
| G4 | Barcelona |
Format
In the group stage, each group is played on a home-and-away round-robin basis. The winners and runners-up of each group will advance to the round of 16 of the final stages. The third-placed teams of each group will enter the knockout round play-offs of the 2026 Copa Sudamericana.
Tiebreakers are based on the following criteria (Regulations Article 2.4.2).[2]
- Points
- Head-to-head points
- Head-to-head goal difference
- Head-to-head goals scored
- Overall goal difference
- Overall goals scored
- Red cards
- Yellow cards
- Drawing of lots
Schedule
The schedule of each matchday will be as follows (Regulations Article 2.2.2).[8][2][1]
| Matchday | Dates | Matches |
|---|---|---|
| Matchday 1 | 7–9 April 2026 | Team 4 vs. Team 2, Team 3 vs. Team 1 |
| Matchday 2 | 14–16 April 2026 | Team 2 vs. Team 3, Team 1 vs. Team 4 |
| Matchday 3 | 28–30 April 2026 | Team 2 vs. Team 1, Team 4 vs. Team 3 |
| Matchday 4 | 5–7 May 2026 | Team 3 vs. Team 2, Team 4 vs. Team 1 |
| Matchday 5 | 19–21 May 2026 | Team 1 vs. Team 2, Team 3 vs. Team 4 |
| Matchday 6 | 26–28 May 2026 | Team 1 vs. Team 3, Team 2 vs. Team 4 |
Groups
Group A
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | FLA | EST | CUS | DIM | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Flamengo | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Advance to round of 16 | — | 20 May | 26 May | 16 Apr | |
| 2 | Estudiantes | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 29 Apr | — | 14 Apr | 26 May | ||
| 3 | Cusco | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Transfer to Copa Sudamericana | 8 Apr | 6 May | — | 20 May | |
| 4 | Independiente Medellín | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 May | 8 Apr | 30 Apr | — |
First match(es) will be played: 8 April 2026. Source: CONMEBOL
Group B
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | NAC | UNI | COQ | TOL | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nacional | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Advance to round of 16 | — | 20 May | 26 May | 14 Apr | |
| 2 | Universitario | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 29 Apr | — | 15 Apr | 26 May | ||
| 3 | Coquimbo Unido | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Transfer to Copa Sudamericana | 8 Apr | 7 May | — | 19 May | |
| 4 | Deportes Tolima | 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 C
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | FLU | BOL | DLG | IRI | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Fluminense | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Advance to round of 16 | — | 19 May | 27 May | 16 Apr | |
| 2 | Bolívar | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 30 Apr | — | 14 Apr | 27 May | ||
| 3 | Deportivo La Guaira | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Transfer to Copa Sudamericana | 7 Apr | 6 May | — | 21 May | |
| 4 | Independiente Rivadavia | 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 D
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | BOC | CRU | UCA | BSC | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Boca Juniors | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Advance to round of 16 | — | 19 May | 28 May | 14 Apr | |
| 2 | Cruzeiro | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 28 Apr | — | 15 Apr | 28 May | ||
| 3 | Universidad Católica | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Transfer to Copa Sudamericana | 7 Apr | 6 May | — | 21 May | |
| 4 | Barcelona | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 May | 7 Apr | 29 Apr | — |
First match(es) will be played: 7 April 2026. Source: CONMEBOL
Group E
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | PEÑ | COR | SFE | PLA | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Peñarol | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Advance to round of 16 | — | 21 May | 27 May | 16 Apr | |
| 2 | Corinthians | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 30 Apr | — | 15 Apr | 27 May | ||
| 3 | Santa Fe | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Transfer to Copa Sudamericana | 9 Apr | 6 May | — | 19 May | |
| 4 | Platense | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 May | 9 Apr | 29 Apr | — |
First match(es) will be played: 9 April 2026. Source: CONMEBOL
Group F
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | PAL | CCP | JUN | CRI | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Palmeiras | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Advance to round of 16 | — | 20 May | 28 May | 16 Apr | |
| 2 | Cerro Porteño | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 29 Apr | — | 14 Apr | 28 May | ||
| 3 | Junior | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Transfer to Copa Sudamericana | 8 Apr | 7 May | — | 20 May | |
| 4 | Sporting Cristal | 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 G
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification | LDQ | LAN | CAR | MIR | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | LDU Quito | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Advance to round of 16 | — | 20 May | 26 May | 14 Apr | |
| 2 | Lanús | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 28 Apr | — | 16 Apr | 26 May | ||
| 3 | Always Ready | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Transfer to Copa Sudamericana | 7 Apr | 5 May | — | 19 May | |
| 4 | Mirassol | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 May | 8 Apr | 29 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 | IDV | LIB | ROS | UCV | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Independiente del Valle | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Advance to round of 16 | — | 19 May | 27 May | 15 Apr | |
| 2 | Libertad | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 28 Apr | — | 15 Apr | 27 May | ||
| 3 | Rosario Central | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | Transfer to Copa Sudamericana | 9 Apr | 5 May | — | 19 May | |
| 4 | Universidad Central | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 May | 9 Apr | 28 Apr | — |
First match(es) will be played: 9 April 2026. Source: CONMEBOL
Notes
- ^ a b c Independiente Rivadavia will play their home matches at Estadio Malvinas Argentinas, Mendoza instead of their regular stadium Estadio Bautista Gargantini, Mendoza which did not meet CONMEBOL requirements.
- ^ a b c Junior will play their home matches at Estadio Jaime Morón León, Cartagena instead of their regular stadium Estadio Metropolitano Roberto Meléndez, Barranquilla which was closed for remodeling works to host the 2026 Copa Sudamericana final.[9]
- ^ a b c Sporting Cristal will play their home matches at Estadio Nacional, Lima instead of their regular stadium Estadio Alberto Gallardo, Lima which did not meet CONMEBOL requirements.
References
- ^ a b "CONMEBOL LIBERTADORES 2026 PROGRAMA DE PARTIDOS - FASE DE GRUPOS | Departamento de Competiciones y Operaciones | Versión 20.03.2026" (PDF) (in Spanish). CONMEBOL. 20 March 2026. Retrieved 20 March 2026.
- ^ a b c "Manual de Clubes CONMEBOL Libertadores 2026" [2026 CONMEBOL Libertadores Clubs Handbook] (PDF) (in Spanish). CONMEBOL. Retrieved 17 March 2026.
- ^ "¿Cuándo es el sorteo de la fase de grupos de la CONMEBOL Libertadores 2026?" [When is the 2026 CONMEBOL Libertadores group stage draw?] (in Spanish). ESPN. 16 March 2026. Retrieved 17 March 2026.
- ^ "Road to Eternal Glory: these are the groups for the 2026 CONMEBOL Libertadores". CONMEBOL. 19 March 2026. Retrieved 19 March 2026.
- ^ "Ranking de Clubes de la CONMEBOL 2026" [2026 CONMEBOL Clubs Ranking] (PDF) (in Spanish). CONMEBOL. 15 December 2025. Retrieved 17 December 2025.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "Junior se muda al Jaime Morón para la Copa Libertadores" [Junior move to the Jaime Morón for the Copa Libertadores] (in Spanish). Diario AS. 13 March 2026. Retrieved 20 March 2026.