Libertadores pots set after Corinthians win, Flamengo top seed | OneFootball

Group Draw Takes Place on March 18

Flamengo is aiming for their fifth Libertadores title in 2026. However, the championship has 'already begun'. With Corinthians winning the Copa do Brasil on Sunday (21), and other countries also finalizing their respective leagues, the pots for the continental competition are divided.

As the current champion, Flamengo will be the top seed and will be in Group A. Additionally, in pot 1 will be: Fluminense, Palmeiras, Boca Juniors (ARG), Peñarol (URU), Nacional (URU), LDU (EQU), and Independiente del Valle (EQU). In short, these teams will not face Mengão in the first phase.

WHAT ARE THE POTS FOR LIBERTADORES 2026?

Corinthians, the Copa do Brasil champion, will enter pot 2. However, they cannot face Flamengo in the first phase, just like Cruzeiro (pot 2) and Mirassol (pot 4), as they are from the same country.

Thus, the only Brazilian teams that can face Rubro-Negro in the initial phase are Botafogo and Bahia, if both reach the group stage, as they will face the pre-Libertadores.

HOW ARE THE LIBERTADORES POTS DIVIDED?

The Conmebol ranking is responsible for dividing the pots among the groups qualified for the Libertadores. However, there are two exceptions: the champion of America from the previous year will necessarily be in pot 1, and the winner of the Sudamericana enters pot 2, regardless of their classification in the continental entity's system.

WHEN WILL THE LIBERTADORES GROUP DRAW TAKE PLACE?

The Rubro-Negro's journey in the Eternal Glory will be known on March 18. That is, only after the end of the preliminary phase. The event will take place at the Conmebol headquarters in Luque, Paraguay. Of course, Coluna do Fla will bring all the information. Flamengo's debut will take place in the first week of April.

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