Libertadores: Conmebol announces dates and times for the first round

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·22 January 2026

Libertadores: Conmebol announces dates and times for the first round

Copa Libertadores kicks off in the first week of February

The Copa Libertadores da América is about to begin. Flamengo, the current champion, will make its debut only in April, during the group stage. However, the preliminary stages already have set dates and times. Conmebol detailed the schedule on Thursday night (22), which includes Botafogo and Bahia.

It’s important to note that only four teams advance to the group stage, and there will be three knockout rounds before the qualifiers are decided. That is, preliminaries 1, 2, and 3. Botafogo and Bahia enter directly in the second qualifying round. Therefore, to reach the same level as Flamengo in the Libertadores 2026, they will need to get past two opponents.

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WHAT ARE THE FIRST LEG MATCHES?

Tuesday (02/03) – The Strongest (BOL) vs Deportivo Táchira (VEN) – 9:30 PM (Brasília time) Wednesday (04) – 2 de Mayo vs Alianza Lima (PER) – 9:30 PM Thursday (05) – Juventud (URU) vs Católica (EQU) – 9:30 PM

WHAT ARE THE SECOND LEG MATCHES?

Tuesday (10) – Táchira vs Strongest – 9:30 PM Wednesday (11) – Alianza Lima vs 2 de Mayo – 9:30 PM Thursday (12) – Católica vs Juventud – 9:30 PM

WHAT IS THE SCHEDULE FOR THE ROUND WHERE THE BRAZILIANS ENTER*?

Tuesday (17) – Carabobo (VEN) vs Huachipato (CHI) – 7:00 PM Tuesday (17) – Católica or Juventud vs Sporting Cristal (PER) – 9:30 PM Tuesday (17) – Liverpool (URU) vs Independiente Medellín (COL) – 9:30 PM Wednesday (18) – O’Higgins (CHI) vs Bahia – 7:00 PM Wednesday (18) – Barcelona (EQU) vs Argentinos Juniors (ARG) – 9:30 PM Wednesday (18) – Nacional Potosí (BOL) vs Botafogo – 9:30 PM Thursday (19) – Alianza Lima or 2 de Mayo vs Guaraní (PAR) – 7:00 PM Thursday (19) – The Strongest (BOL) or Deportivo Táchira (VEN) vs Deportes Tolima (COL) – 9:30 PM

*The list above shows the first leg matches. The second leg matches, with reversed home advantage, will take place one week later.

WHERE WILL THE QUALIFIERS ENTER THE GROUP STAGE?

The four teams that qualify from the preliminary rounds will enter pot 4 of the Libertadores. In fact, Flamengo could face any of them, including the Brazilian teams, depending on the draw. However, teams from the same country in groups 2 and 3 cannot be drawn into Mengão’s path.

WHEN WILL THE LIBERTADORES DRAW TAKE PLACE?

Confirmed in pot 1 of the Libertadores as the current champion, Flamengo awaits its opponents, who will be revealed in the draw on March 18. The event will take place at Conmebol headquarters in Luque, Paraguay. The debut match will be in the week of April 7.

Champion in 1981, 2019, 2022, and 2025, Flamengo is in pursuit of its fifth Libertadores title. The Rubro-Negro is already the Brazilian club with the most trophies, but now the focus is on Independiente (ARG), the leader in the ranking with seven titles in the most important tournament in South America.

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