Boca the only Argentine side seeded for the 2026 Libertadores draw

In partnership with

La Número 12

·15 de diciembre de 2025

Boca the only Argentine side seeded for the 2026 Libertadores draw

The 2026 Copa Libertadores is starting to take shape. With 44 out of the 47 teams qualified, the most prestigious tournament in South America is preparing for the draw of the preliminary phases, which will take place this Thursday at noon. There, the last four clubs that will complete the group stage will be determined, where Boca Juniors will be the only Argentine representative as a seeded team.

The Xeneize is the only team among the so-called big five of Argentine football that will participate in this edition of the competition, which will also feature Estudiantes de La Plata, Lanús, Rosario Central, Platense, Independiente Rivadavia de Mendoza, and Argentinos Juniors, the latter being in the preliminary phase.

OneFootball Videos

Three spots are yet to be confirmed: one team from Brazil (Corinthians or Vasco da Gama), one from Ecuador (Liga de Quito or Barcelona), and one from Colombia (Junior, who won 3-0 against Deportes Tolima in the first leg). With them, the 28 teams that have already secured their participation in the group stage will be completed. The four that advance from the preliminary phases will occupy pot 4, where Platense and Independiente Rivadavia, two Argentine debutants looking to surprise, will also be.

Distribution of the Pots

According to the Conmebol ranking, the Argentine teams will be distributed as follows:

Pot 1: Boca Juniors, Flamengo, Palmeiras, Peñarol, Nacional, Fluminense, Independiente del Valle, and Liga de Quito or Libertad.
Pot 2: Estudiantes, Lanús, Libertad or Barcelona, Cerro Porteño, Corinthians or Universitario, Bolívar, Cruzeiro, and Junior.
Pot 3: Rosario Central, Universitario or Vasco da Gama, Universidad Católica de Chile, Independiente Santa Fe, Always Ready, Coquimbo, Deportivo La Guaira, and Cusco.
Pot 4: Platense, Independiente Rivadavia, Universidad Central, Mirassol, and the four teams coming from the preliminary phases.

Preliminary Phases

The preliminary stage will be contested by Argentinos Juniors, The Strongest, Blooming or Nacional de Potosí, Botafogo, Bahía, O’Higgins, Huachipato, Deportes Tolima or Atlético Nacional, Independiente Medellín, Liga de Quito or Barcelona, Universidad Católica, Guaraní, 2 de Mayo, Sporting Cristal, Alianza Lima, Liverpool, Juventud de las Piedras, Carabobo, and Deportivo Táchira.

Boca will make its debut in the Copa Libertadores in the week of April 7.

The 2026 Libertadores Calendar

Phase 1: First leg on February 2, return the following week
Phase 2: Between February 17 and 26
Phase 3: From March 3 to 12
Group draw: Week of March 18
Group stage: Date 1: April 7 Date 2: April 14 to 16 Date 3: April 28 to 30 Date 4: May 5 to 7 Date 5: May 19 to 21 Date 6: May 26 to 28

The Road to the Final

The draw for the round of 16 will take place in the week of June 6. The matches will be played between August 11 and 20, the quarterfinals between September 8 and 17, the semifinals from October 14 to 22, and the grand final is scheduled for November 28 in Montevideo.