Libertadores 2026: see the teams qualified for South America’s biggest competition next season!

There is just over a month to go until the start of the 2026 Copa Libertadores de América, and all participating teams are already defined. This already whets the appetite for sports betting in the upcoming season.

The 2026 Libertadores begins on February 3 with the preliminary rounds. A lot can still happen until then, but with the teams confirmed, it is already possible to follow who will strengthen their squads, change managers, or keep their current rosters for next season. Check out the teams below.

When does the 2026 Libertadores take place?

Before getting to know the teams, it is important to be aware of the key dates for the next Copa Libertadores de América. The preliminary Libertadores stage, which determines the teams that advance to the group stage and those that move to the Sudamericana, begins on February 3.

The first round, a two-legged knockout, takes place on February 4 and 5, with the return matches between February 10 and 12. The winning teams advance to the second round, where they face teams already qualified in advance, with matches played between February 17 and 26.

The third round follows, with matches running until March 12. On March 18, Conmebol will hold the group stage draw. The group stage itself is scheduled to take place from April 7 to May 28.

As 2026 is a World Cup year, the Libertadores will pause and return in August, with the round of 16 played between August 11 and 20. The quarterfinals will take place from September 8 to 17, followed by the semifinals from October 13 to 21, and the grand final, confirmed to be held at the Centenario Stadium in Montevideo, the capital of Uruguay.

Which teams are already qualified for the 2026 Libertadores?

Each of the 10 Conmebol member countries has a different number of spots. With the exception of Brazil and Argentina, all member nations have four places. Below, you can also see how each team secured qualification for the continental tournament.

Argentina

In the 2026 season, Argentina will have six representatives in the Libertadores. The country naturally has six spots and also includes the Sudamericana champion, which was Lanús.

Through the Argentine Championship, Platense qualified as Apertura champions and Estudiantes as Clausura champions. Independiente Rivadavia qualified as Copa Argentina winners, while Rosario Central, Boca Juniors, and Argentinos Juniors earned spots through overall season standings.

All teams, except Argentinos Juniors, go directly to the group stage. Argentinos Juniors will need to play in the preliminary rounds, starting from the second phase.

Bolivia

From the Bolivian Championship, champions Always Ready and runners-up Bolívar qualified directly for the group stage. Another spot went to The Strongest, as the third-place team nationally. The final Bolivian team qualified for the 2026 Libertadores was Nacional Potosí, winners of the national cup.

Brazil

Brazil, the largest country on the continent, has the most spots. There are seven direct places, plus an eighth team, as Flamengo were champions in 2025. Since Flamengo also won the Brazilian league, the fifth-placed team inherited a direct spot.

As a result, Palmeiras, Cruzeiro, Mirassol, and Fluminense go straight to the group stage, along with Corinthians, winners of the Copa do Brasil. Botafogo and Bahia, who finished sixth and seventh, will play in the second phase of the preliminary Libertadores.

Chile

Chile sends two teams directly to the group stage and two to the second preliminary phase. Coquimbo Unido and Universidad Católica, national champions and runners-up, qualify directly. O’Higgins, third place, and Huachipato, winners of the Copa Chile, will play in the preliminaries.

Colombia

The Colombian Torneo Apertura was won by Santa Fe, while the Torneo Finalización title went to Junior Barranquilla. These teams qualify for the group stage, with Deportes Tolima and Independiente Medellín entering the second preliminary phase as the best and second-best teams in the overall season standings.

Ecuador

Ecuadorian champions Independiente del Valle and runners-up LDU have secured spots in the group stage. Barcelona de Guayaquil, the best team in the final hexagonal, will play in the second phase, while Universidad Católica, winners of the Copa Ecuador, will start the 2026 Libertadores in the first preliminary phase.

Paraguay

From Paraguay, Libertad and Cerro Porteño, champions of the Apertura and Clausura respectively, qualified for the group stage. Guarani, the best team in the aggregate table, advances to the second phase, while 2 de Mayo, winners of the Copa Paraguay, will start in the first phase.

Peru

All of Peru’s spots were defined through the national league. The teams that finished in the top four qualify for the Libertadores: Universitario, Cusco, Sporting Cristal, and Alianza Lima. The first two go directly to the group stage, while Sporting Cristal enters the second preliminary phase and Alianza Lima the first.

Uruguay

From Uruguay, the champions and runners-up of the Uruguayan Championship qualify for the group stage: the traditional Nacional and Peñarol. In addition, the two best teams in the overall standings, Liverpool and Juventud, enter the preliminary Libertadores in the second and first phases, respectively.

Venezuela

Finally, Venezuela’s qualified teams are also split between the group stage and the preliminary rounds. Universidad Central were national champions and go to the group stage, along with Deportes La Guaira, the best overall team. Carabobo, runners-up, enter the second phase, while Deportivo Táchira, the second-best overall team, start in the first phase.

Libertadores 2026 group stage draw pots

The pots for the Libertadores group stage draw, which will take place in March, are already defined based on the Conmebol ranking. Teams from the same country can only be drawn into the same group if the second team comes from the preliminary phase.

• Pot 1: Flamengo, Palmeiras, Fluminense, Boca Juniors, Peñarol, Nacional, LDU, and Independiente del Valle
• Pot 2: Lanús, Libertad, Estudiantes, Cerro Porteño, Corinthians, Bolívar, Cruzeiro, and Universitario
• Pot 3: Junior Barranquilla, Universidad Católica, Santa Fe, Rosario Central, Always Ready, Coquimbo Unido, Deportivo La Guaira, and Cusco
• Pot 4: Universidad Central, Platense, Independiente Rivadavia, Mirassol, and the four teams that advance from the preliminary Libertadores

Bet on the 2026 Libertadores at Blaze

There is still some time before the ball starts rolling in the 2026 Libertadores. To ease the wait, fans can enjoy other matches, follow football around the world, and place sports bets.

However, before making your picks, it is always important to remember that sports betting is a leisure activity, never an investment. Only use amounts intended for this type of entertainment, so as not to affect personal and financial aspects of life. Responsible Gaming is the captain of this team.

Bet on football at Blaze and feel the excitement of the game in action.