Sul-Americana 2026: see the teams already qualified for next season’s continental tournament

The 2026 Copa Sudamericana already has almost all of its participating teams confirmed. Almost, because there are still those that will enter the tournament through the Libertadores preliminary stages. And, as a proper continental competition filled with great moments, it is also a strong opportunity for sports betting.

The Sula, as it is affectionately known, begins on March 3, right after the Libertadores preliminary phase. With a few months still to go, check out who is already preparing to play South America’s second-largest continental tournament in this Blaze list.

When does the 2026 Copa Sudamericana take place?

Before getting to know the teams, it is important to pay attention to the dates of the 2026 Copa Sudamericana. The first phase, played as a single match, is scheduled for early March, on the 3rd or 4th. This stage creates national matchups between teams from eight CONMEBOL member countries.

Two representatives from each of these countries take part, but the qualified teams from Brazil and Argentina, along with the four teams eliminated in the third phase of the Libertadores preliminaries, advance to the group stage. This phase of the competition runs from April 8 to May 27. On June 3, the knockout round draw will take place.

The playoffs, featuring third-place teams from the Libertadores group stage and runners-up from each Sudamericana group, are scheduled to take place between July 22 and 29, with home-and-away matches. This format continues through the semifinals. The round of 16 will be played between August 12 and 19, the quarterfinals from September 9 to 16, and the semifinals between October 14 and 21.

The grand final of the 2026 Copa Sudamericana already has a date and venue. CONMEBOL has set November 21 for the single-match final, to be held at the Metropolitano Roberto Meléndez Stadium in Barranquilla, Colombia.

Which teams are already qualified for the 2026 Copa Sudamericana?

The Sudamericana group stage features 32 teams. To reach that stage, 44 teams qualify for the tournament. Six come from Brazil and six from Argentina, directly into the group stage, while four teams from each of the other eight countries — Bolivia, Colombia, Chile, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, and Venezuela — compete for two spots per association.

Argentina

Argentina qualified the teams that finished between 4th and 10th place for the 2026 Sudamericana. Lanús, which finished 8th, won the previous Sudamericana and secured a spot in the Libertadores. The Argentine teams, in order of qualification, are River Plate, Racing, Deportivo Riestra, San Lorenzo, Tigre, and Barracas Central.

Bolivia

From Bolivia, the teams that qualified were those with the best placements in the 2025 División Profesional who did not advance to the Libertadores. The teams are Independiente Petrolero, Guabirá, Blooming, and San Antonio Bulo Bulo.

Brazil

As with Argentina, Brazilian teams are already in the group stage. Teams that finished from 8th to 14th place qualified. Once again, because one of these teams moved up to the Libertadores — Corinthians, champions of the Copa do Brasil — the spot shifted down one position.

Brazil’s representatives in the 2026 Sudamericana are São Paulo, Grêmio, RB Bragantino, Atlético Mineiro, Santos, and Vasco, which had a chance to qualify for the Libertadores but lost the national cup final to Corinthians.

Chile

The Chilean teams that qualified finished between 4th and 7th place in the national league: Universidad de Chile, Audax Italiano, Palestino, and Cobresal.

Colombia

Colombia had a mixed distribution of spots. Three went to the teams that finished between 6th and 8th place in the Colombian Championship — América de Cali, Atlético Bucaramanga, and Millonarios — while the remaining spot went to Atlético Nacional, champions of the Copa Colombia.

Ecuador

Ecuador allocated all its spots through the Ecuadorian Championship, with two coming from Final Phase 1 and the other two from Final Phase 2. As a result, Orense, Libertad, Macará, and Deportivo Cuenca will play in the Sudamericana.

Paraguay

Paraguay followed the more traditional approach, with all spots based on the annual standings of the Paraguayan Championship. Sportivo Trinidense, Nacional, Recoleta, and Olimpia finished between 4th and 7th place and secured qualification.

Peru

Peru followed the same model as Paraguay, with teams finishing from 5th to 8th place qualifying for the Copa Sudamericana. The spots went to Alianza Atlético, Melgar, Deportivo Garcilaso, and Cienciano.

Uruguay

In Uruguay, all spots are also awarded through the Uruguayan Championship, for teams that finish the season between 5th and 8th place. The qualified teams are Defensor Sporting, Boston River, Racing, and Montevideo City Torque.

Venezuela

Another country that allocated all its Sudamericana spots through the national league is Venezuela, also from 5th to 8th place. The teams qualified for the 2026 edition are Academia Puerto Cabello, Monagas, Caracas, and Metropolitanos.

Bet on the 2026 Copa Sudamericana at Blaze

There are still a few months to go before the start of the 2026 Copa Sudamericana, but in the meantime, there is still plenty of football to follow while you wait. And with so many great moments, you can also enjoy sports betting.

However, this activity requires Responsible Gaming to be part of your lineup. Use only amounts intended for this type of leisure. Sports betting is entertainment and should never be confused with investment.

With responsibility on your side, you can bet on football here at Blaze and celebrate the goals of your favorites.