2026 Copa Sudamericana first stage
The 2026 Copa Sudamericana first stage was played from 3 to 5 March 2026.[1] A total of 32 teams competed in the first stage to decide 16 of the 32 places in the group stage of the 2026 Copa Sudamericana.
Draw
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.[2][3]
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.[4]
| Bolivia | Chile | Colombia | Ecuador |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paraguay | Peru | Uruguay | Venezuela |
- † The identity of the teams from Bolivia and Ecuador was not known at the time of the draw.
Format
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).
Matches
Matches were played on 3–5 March 2026.[5][6][7]
| Independiente Petrolero | 0–0 | Guabirá |
|---|---|---|
| Report | ||
| Penalties | ||
|
3–2 | |
Independiente Petrolero advanced to the group stage (BOL 1).
| Blooming | 3–0 | San Antonio Bulo Bulo |
|---|---|---|
|
Report |
Blooming advanced to the group stage (BOL 2).
| Universidad de Chile | 1–2 | Palestino |
|---|---|---|
|
Report |
Palestino advanced to the group stage (CHI 1).
| Cobresal | 1–1 | Audax Italiano |
|---|---|---|
|
Report |
|
| Penalties | ||
| 2–3 |
|
|
Audax Italiano advanced to the group stage (CHI 2).
| Atlético Nacional | 1–3 | Millonarios |
|---|---|---|
|
Report |
Millonarios advanced to the group stage (COL 1).
| América de Cali | 2–1 | Atlético Bucaramanga |
|---|---|---|
| Report |
|
América de Cali advanced to the group stage (COL 2).
| Deportivo Cuenca | 3–0 | Libertad |
|---|---|---|
|
Report |
Deportivo Cuenca advanced to the group stage (ECU 1).
Macará advanced to the group stage (ECU 2).
| Nacional | 1–1 | Recoleta |
|---|---|---|
|
Report |
|
| Penalties | ||
|
4–5 |
|
Recoleta advanced to the group stage (PAR 1).
| Sportivo Trinidense | 0–1 | Olimpia |
|---|---|---|
| Report |
|
Olimpia advanced to the group stage (PAR 2).
| Alianza Atlético | 2–0 | Deportivo Garcilaso |
|---|---|---|
|
Report |
Alianza Atlético advanced to the group stage (PER 1).
| Cienciano | 1–1 | Melgar |
|---|---|---|
|
Report |
|
| Penalties | ||
|
5–4 | |
Cienciano advanced to the group stage (PER 2).
| Montevideo City Torque | 1–0 | Defensor Sporting |
|---|---|---|
|
Report |
Montevideo City Torque advanced to the group stage (URU 1).
| Boston River | 1–0 | Racing |
|---|---|---|
|
Report |
Boston River advanced to the group stage (URU 2).
Academia Puerto Cabello advanced to the group stage (VEN 1).
| Caracas | 0–0 | Metropolitanos |
|---|---|---|
| Report | ||
| Penalties | ||
| 4–3 |
|
|
Caracas advanced to the group stage (VEN 2).
Notes
- ^ Universidad de Chile played their home match behind closed doors as punishment for the events of their 2025 Copa Sudamericana match against Independiente.[8]
- ^ The kickoff of the Cobresal v Audax Italiano match was delayed until 23:10 local time due to a power outage at Estadio Zorros del Desierto.
- ^ Cobresal played their home match at Estadio Zorros del Desierto, Calama instead of their regular stadium Estadio El Cobre, El Salvador which did not meet CONMEBOL requirements.
- ^ The Deportivo Cuenca vs. Libertad match, originally scheduled to be held at Estadio George Capwell, Guayaquil, was moved to Deportivo Cuenca's regular stadium Estadio Alejandro Serrano Aguilar, Cuenca.[9]
- ^ Nacional played their home match at Estadio Defensores del Chaco, Asunción instead of their regular stadium Estadio Arsenio Erico, Asunción which did not meet CONMEBOL requirements.
- ^ Sportivo Trinidense played their home match at Estadio Defensores del Chaco, Asunción instead of their regular stadium Estadio Martín Torres, Asunción which did not meet CONMEBOL requirements.
- ^ Alianza Atlético played their home match at Estadio Mansiche, Trujillo instead of their regular stadium Estadio Campeones del 36, Sullana which did not meet CONMEBOL requirements.
- ^ Montevideo City Torque played their home match at Estadio Centenario, Montevideo (originally scheduled at Parque Alfredo Víctor Viera, Montevideo)[6] instead of their regular stadium Estadio Charrúa, Montevideo which did not meet CONMEBOL requirements.[10]
- ^ Boston River played their home match at Estadio Centenario, Montevideo instead of their regular stadium Estadio Campeones Olímpicos, Florida which did not meet CONMEBOL requirements.
- ^ Academia Puerto Cabello played their home match at Estadio Misael Delgado, Valencia instead of their regular stadium La Bombonerita, Puerto Cabello which did not meet CONMEBOL requirements.
References
- ^ "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.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "Fixture de la Primera Fase – CONMEBOL Sudamericana 2026" [First Stage Fixture – 2026 CONMEBOL Sudamericana] (in Spanish). CONMEBOL. 23 December 2025. Retrieved 23 December 2025.
- ^ a b "CONMEBOL SUDAMERICANA 2026 | PROGRAMA DE PARTIDOS - PRIMERA FASE | Departamento de Competiciones y Operaciones | Versión de 23/12/2025" (PDF) (in Spanish). CONMEBOL. 23 December 2025. Retrieved 23 December 2025.
- ^ "CONMEBOL SUDAMERICANA 2026 | PROGRAMA DE PARTIDOS - PRIMERA FASE | Departamento de Competiciones y Operaciones | Versión de 23/02/2026" (PDF) (in Spanish). CONMEBOL. 23 February 2026. Retrieved 23 February 2026.
- ^ Bernucci, Carla (4 March 2026). "La prueba que puede cambiar todo en la U de Chile: el millonario botín que está en juego ante Palestino" [The test that could change everything at U de Chile: the million-dollar prize at stake against Palestino] (in Spanish). Al Aire Libre. Retrieved 4 March 2026.
- ^ "Deportivo Cuenca jugará en el Estadio Alejandro Serrano Aguilar la Primera Fase de la Sudamericana" [Deportivo Cuenca will play the Copa Sudamericana First Stage at Estadio Alejandro Serrano Aguilar] (in Spanish). El Mercurio. 17 February 2026. Retrieved 17 February 2026.
- ^ "Cambio de escenario en un encuentro de la CONMEBOL Sudamericana 2026" [Venue change in a 2026 CONMEBOL Sudamericana match] (in Spanish). CONMEBOL. 23 February 2026. Retrieved 23 February 2026.