São Paulo face tough Sul-Americana with 9 Libertadores champions | OneFootball

Set for the 2026 Copa Sudamericana competition, São Paulo might not have an easy path in South America's second-tier tournament. With the presence of many giants and nine Libertadores champions already confirmed, the tricolor's journey could be quite challenging.

Of the six Brazilian teams that will compete in the Sudamericana, five are Libertadores champions. Besides Tricolor, Santos, Grêmio, Atlético-MG, and Corinthians or Vasco, who will know their fate after the Copa do Brasil final. Only Bragantino has not conquered America.

Foreign challenges

Among the Argentinian opponents, there are three more continental champion clubs, River Plate, Racing, and San Lorenzo. Completing the six qualified teams are the smaller Deportivo Riestra, Tigre, and Barracas Central.

Rounding out the list of South American giants is Olimpia from Paraguay, which will also be represented by Sportivo Trinidense, Nacional, and Recoleta. The number of champions could still reach ten if Atlético Nacional secures the last spot in Colombia.

Other giants from the Americas will also be in the Sudamericana group stage, such as the traditional Universidad de Chile and the Peruvian Cienciano, who have also been Copa Sudamericana champions, and América de Cali, always a dangerous Colombian rival for the Brazilians.

The Sudamericana format

The group stage of the Copa Sudamericana, where São Paulo is already guaranteed without having to go through any preliminary stage, will be contested by 32 teams, divided into four groups with four clubs each. The best of each group advances to the round of 16, and the second-best will play a playoff against one of the third-placed teams from the Libertadores groups.

The teams will face each other in home-and-away matches within their own groups. In the knockout stage, the elimination matches will be in a home-and-away format until the semifinals.

The grand final will be played in a single match at the Estadio Metropolitano Roberto Meléndez in Barranquilla, Colombia.

See the teams already qualified for the 2026 Copa Sudamericana:

Argentina: River Plate, Racing, Deportivo Riestra, San Lorenzo, Tigre, and Barracas Central Brazil: São Paulo, Santos, Grêmio, Atlético-MG, Bragantino, and Corinthians or Vasco Chile: Universidad de Chile, Audax Italiano, Palestino, and Cobresal Paraguay: Sportivo Trinidense, Nacional, Recoleta, and Olimpia Peru: Alianza Atlético, Melgar, Deportivo Garcilaso, and Cienciano Uruguay: Defensor, Boston River, Racing, and Montevideo City Torque Venezuela: Academia Puerto Cabello, Monagas, Caracas, Metropolitanos Colombia: América de Cali, Atlético Bucaramanga, and Millonarios. One spot still to be determined Bolivia: Independiente Petrolero and Guabirá. Two spots still to be determined Ecuador: Libertad and Orense. Two spots still to be determined

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