🏟️ Mirassol stadium could miss out on the Libertadores, here’s why | OneFootball

Qualified for the 2026 Copa Libertadores, Mirassol faces an obstacle off the field to play in front of its fans.

The club needs to meet a Conmebol requirement: having an international airport located at a maximum of 150 kilometers from the stadium that will host the matches.

The club's main alternative is the internationalization of the São José do Rio Preto Airport, which is about 15 kilometers from Mirassol.

The process, however, encounters bureaucratic barriers and has not yet been formalized, according to Band information.

Obstacle with Anac

Although interest in internationalization began last year, the National Civil Aviation Agency (Anac) reported that it has not yet received the formal request for the change to occur.

According to Band, Anac has so far received only a letter of interest. In November 2025, the agency responded with the necessary guidelines and procedures, but since then there has been no further feedback or submission of documentation.

For the airport to become international, approvals from four bodies are required: Federal Police, Anvisa, Federal Revenue, and Ministry of Agriculture.

So far, only the Federal Police and Anvisa have confirmed approval.

Risk of playing away from home

Mirassol does not risk losing its spot in the Libertadores.

The problem, if the airport situation is not resolved, is the city of Mirassol being excluded from the competition.

If the São José do Rio Preto Airport is not adapted in time, the team from the interior of São Paulo will be forced to host its games in a stadium that meets Conmebol's logistical requirement.

Anticipating this scenario, the management has already indicated the Pacaembu stadium in São Paulo's capital as the "plan B" if Maião is vetoed.

Tight deadlines

Time is the biggest adversary for the Lion at this moment.

The group stage draw for the Libertadores is scheduled for March 18, and the competition is set to begin on April 7.

The club has only a few weeks to unlock the bureaucracy and decide where it will host its games in the continental tournament.

Anac's Note

"The National Civil Aviation Agency (Anac) has not received a formal request for the internationalization of the São José do Rio Preto Airport (SP). So far, the municipality has only sent a letter expressing interest, addressed to the National Civil Aviation Secretariat (SAC) of the Ministry of Ports and Airports (MPor), with a copy to the Agency, but without the submission of the request provided for in Resolution No. 181/2011 and without the approvals of the border control bodies. In November 2025, Anac sent a letter to the airport operator, guiding on the necessary procedures to start the process. Since then, there has been no further feedback or submission of documentation."

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

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