Final stage: Copa Libertadores and Sudamericana spots update

In partnership with

Radio Gol

·3 de noviembre de 2025

Final stage: Copa Libertadores and Sudamericana spots update

The Clausura Tournament of the Professional League has entered its final stage and, in addition to deciding the champion and the relegations, it has become the main stage for determining the qualifiers for the 2026 Copa Libertadores and Copa Sudamericana.

In principle, Argentine football will have 12 clubs participating internationally next year: six will go to the Copa Libertadores and another six will play in the Copa Sudamericana. However, the definition is dynamic, as one or more spots may open up depending on the results.

OneFootball Videos

With the defeat against Gimnasia, River has seriously complicated its chances of qualifying directly for the next Copa Libertadores. In the annual table, they have collected 52 points, while Boca, the last team currently qualifying directly, has 56. In other words, there is a four-point difference with six points still to play for.

The top continental competition already has two guaranteed spots:

Platense, as the champion of the Apertura Tournament.
Rosario Central, who with 65 points has already secured its place via the annual table.

Three more teams will join them:

The winner of the current Clausura.
The winner of the Copa Argentina (which will be either Argentinos Juniors or Independiente Rivadavia).
The next two best-placed teams in the annual table. Currently, Boca (56 points) is in second place after defeating Estudiantes, while River, after losing to Gimnasia (52 points), occupies third place, in the playoff zone.

Qualification for the Copa Sudamericana

Qualification for the Copa Sudamericana will go to the teams that finish from the fourth to ninth place in the annual table. For now, the clubs currently securing their spot are:

Argentinos Juniors (51 points)
Deportivo Riestra (51 points)
San Lorenzo (49 points)
Barracas Central (47 points)
Racing (46 points)
Lanús (46 points)

It is essential to clarify that, in this race, teams only accumulate points during the 16 rounds of the regular phase of the Clausura. The playoff stage to decide the champion does not count towards the annual table.

The “Freed Spots” Factor

There is a key factor that could benefit more teams: the freeing up of spots. If the champions coincide with the top positions in the annual table, or if a club wins more than one title, additional places will be freed up for qualification via the table.

Additionally, the outcome can be altered by international results: If Lanús wins the Copa Sudamericana, they will automatically qualify for the 2026 Libertadores. For this to free up an extra spot via the annual table, the “Granate” must finish among the best in the annual table, something they are currently achieving.