The road to the 2026 Copa Libertadores finals has officially begun. This Thursday, the preliminary round draw took place, which will determine the final four members of the group stage. The tournament will kick off on February 3, with the participating teams including the defending continental champions Flamengo (Libertadores of South America) and Lanus (South America).
The first stage: the beginning of the dream
Six teams will compete in three knockout rounds. The competition is defined as follows:
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E1: Bolivia (representative to be determined) vs. Tachira Sports Club (VEN).
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E2: Uruguay Youth Team vs. Pontifical Catholic University of Ecuador.
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E3: 2 de Mayo (PAR) vs. Alianza Lima (PER).
The winners of these matches will advance to the second stage, where thirteen teams that have already advanced await, including regional powerhouses such as Botafogo and Argentino Juniors.
The second stage of high-pressure conflict
The second stage of the competition will be held from February 17th to 26th, and the competition is fierce. A potential showdown between the Peruvian Lima League champions and Atlético de Cristal is eye-catching. Meanwhile, Independiente Medellin will face Uruguay’s Liverpool FC and Ecuador’s representative team will face Argentina’s youth team.
The eight survivors of this round will advance to the third stage, the final step before the group stage. It is worth noting that teams eliminated in the third stage will not end their international competition, as they will directly obtain a spot in the South American Cup group stage.
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This article was translated into English by artificial intelligence. You can read the original version here 🇪🇸.
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