Flamengo draw altitude test and familiar foes in 2026 Libertadores group | OneFootball

Flamengo face altitude, long travel and a familiar rival in the 2026 Libertadores group stage, drawn while they beat Remo 3-0 at the Maracanã. They open against Cusco FC, and also face Independiente Medellín and Estudiantes.

According to Globo.com, the draw brings 3,350-metre altitude in Cusco, over eight hours to Medellín, and a rematch with Estudiantes. Afterwards, president Bap accepted the challenges, urging the team to stay alert and pursue another title.

Cusco FC, founded 17 years ago and formerly Real Garcilaso, return after 2013 and 2014, when they reached the quarter-finals on debut. Home is the Inca Garcilaso de la Vega, 3,350 metres up, capacity 45,000. Coach Miguel Rondelli is tied to 2028, but 2026 has begun poorly and they are 13th, despite striker Facundo Callejo’s 25 goals last year.

Estudiantes, four-time winners like Flamengo, are in their 19th campaign and took Flamengo to penalties in last season’s quarter-finals after winning 1-0 at home. The rebuilt Jorge Luis Hirsch holds 32,000, and new coach Alexander Cacique Medina has replaced Eduardo Domínguez, with mixed early results that leave them second in Argentina’s Apertura Group A after 10 rounds.

Independiente Medellín have 11 entries, peaking with the 2003 semi-finals, and exited the 2023 groups. At the 45,000-capacity Atanasio Girardot they are unbeaten at home in qualifying, drawing 0-0 with Liverpool-URU and beating Juventud las Piedras 2-1, under coach Alejandro Restrepo since August 2024, while forward Francisco Fydriszewski struck the play-off winner and hit 20 goals in 2025.

Source: Globo.com