Libertadores: 7 of 8 Pot 1 teams set, possible rivals for Flamengo

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·19 December 2025

Libertadores: 7 of 8 Pot 1 teams set, possible rivals for Flamengo

Some spots are still open, but it’s possible to project the Libertadores groups

After the defeat to PSG (FRA), Flamengo fans dream of returning to the Club World Cup in 2026. To get there, however, the Red and Black need to win the Copa Libertadores in 2026. The group stage draw will only take place on March 18, but with many teams already qualified, it’s possible to project some scenarios.

As the champion of this year’s Copa Libertadores, Flamengo is guaranteed a spot in Pot 1 and will be the top seed in Group A. Aside from Mengão and Lanús (Sudamericana champion), each team's position in the pots is determined by the Conmebol ranking.

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WHAT ARE THE PROJECTIONS FOR THE LIBERTADORES GROUPS?

POT 𝟭 Flamengo (Libertadores champion) Palmeiras (1) Boca Juniors-ARG (4) Peñarol-URU (5) Nacional-URU (8) Fluminense (11) Independiente del Valle-EQU (16) Libertad (17) (LDU may take Libertad’s spot if they become Ecuadorian runners-up) POT 𝟮 Lanús-ARG (Sudamericana champion) Estudiantes-ARG (18) Cerro Porteño-PAR (20) Bolívar-BOL (23) Barcelona-EQU* (28) Cruzeiro (29) Universitario-PER (32) Corinthians* (22) or Junior-COL (34) POT 3 U. Católica-CHI (35) Junior-COL (34) or Vasco da Gama* (62) Independiente Santa Fe-COL (53) Rosario Central-ARG (48) Always Ready-BOL (64) Coquimbo Unido-CHI (82) Deportivo La Guaira-VEN (114) Cusco-PER (142) POT 𝟰 Universidad Central-VEN (179) Platense-ARG (223) Independiente Rivadavia-ARG (N/A) Mirassol (N/A) Playoff 1 Playoff 2 Playoff 3 Playoff 4

Notes – Teams with * are not yet confirmed in the group stage Vasco vs Corinthians will play the final of the Copa do Brasil. The winner qualifies; Barcelona (67 points) and LDU (66) are fighting for the Ecuadorian runner-up spot. If LDU overtakes their rival, they will enter Pot 1 and push Libertad to Pot 2

– The numbers in parentheses are each team's position in the Conmebol ranking, which determines the pots.

It’s important to note that teams from the same country cannot face each other in the first phase, unless they come from the Libertadores qualifying rounds. That means Flamengo could face Bahia or Botafogo, who will play in the preliminary round, if both manage to advance.

In other words, Flamengo cannot face Cruzeiro and Mirassol in the initial phase. Nor the winner of the Copa do Brasil (Corinthians or Vasco). However, there are no restrictions regarding Lanús, Sudamericana champion and Flamengo’s rival in the 2026 Recopa.

HOW WAS THE LIBERTADORES QUALIFYING DRAW?

While the group stage draw will only take place on March 18, 2026, the preliminary stage was defined this Thursday (18th). Botafogo will face a Bolivian team (The Strongest, Blooming, or Nacional de Potosí). Bahia will face O’Higgins from Chile. It’s important to note that if they advance, the Brazilian teams will still have one more knockout round before reaching the group stage.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.