👀 Check out Brazilian football’s record in the Copa Libertadores qualifiers | OneFootball

Botafogo and Bahia learned their respective paths from the second preliminary phase of the 2026 Libertadores this Thursday (18th).

This will be the tenth consecutive edition in which Brazilian teams need to overcome two rivals with an eye on the group stage.

Only once, in 2024, was there an early all-Brazilian clash – the future champion Botafogo eliminated Red Bull Bragantino. 

The mission for Glorioso and the Tricolor from Bahia next year will be to avoid an early exit.

Seven Brazilian teams have already been knocked out since 2005.

Negative highlight for Corinthians, the record holder in eliminations.

See below how the draw turned out and the complete history of Brazilians in the preliminary phases of the competition. 

Second Phase Matchups

They will take place between February 18 and 26

C1: E2 (Juventud 🇺🇾 x Universidad Católica 🇪🇨) x Guaraní 🇵🇾

C2: E1 (Representative from 🇧🇴 x Deportivo Táchira 🇻🇪) x Tolima 🇨🇴

C3: E3 (2 de Mayo 🇵🇾 x Alianza Lima 🇵🇪) x Sporting Cristal 🇵🇪

C4: Representative from 🇪🇨 x Argentinos Juniors 🇦🇷

C5: The Strongest 🇧🇴, Nacional de Potosí 🇧🇴 or Blooming 🇧🇴 x Botafogo

C6: Carabobo 🇻🇪 x Huachipato 🇨🇱

C7: O'Higgins 🇨🇱 x Bahia

C8: Liverpool 🇺🇾  x Independiente Medellín 🇨🇴

Third Phase Matchups*

They will take place between March 3 and 12 

C1 🆚 C8

C2 🆚 C7

C3 🆚 C6

C4 🆚 C5

*Eliminated teams are guaranteed a spot in the group stage of the Copa Sudamericana

All Eliminations of Brazilian Teams 🙄

The score in question is the aggregate after both matches

2011 - Corinthians 0x2 Tolima - 2nd phase 

2018 - Chapecoense 0x2 Nacional - 2nd phase

2019 - São Paulo 0x2 Talleres - 2nd phase

2020 - Corinthians 2x2 Guaraní (PAR)* - 2nd phase

2021 - Grêmio 2x4 Independiente del Valle - 3rd phase

2022 - Fluminense 3(1)x(4)3 Olimpia - 3rd phase

2023 - Fortaleza 1x3 Cerro Porteño - 3rd phase

2024 - Bragantino 2x3 Botafogo - 3rd phase

2025 - Corinthians 2x3 Barcelona de Guayaquil - 3rd phase

*Qualified by away goals rule

Complete History of Brazilian Teams 👇🏽

The Libertadores had only one preliminary phase between 2005 and 2016.

Before that, between 1998 and 2003, two teams from Mexico and two from Venezuela competed for two spots in the group stage.

The 2004 edition did not have a preliminary phase.

2005

Palmeiras overcame Tacuary (PAR).

2006

Palmeiras eliminated Deportivo Táchira.

Goiás knocked out Deportivo Cuenca (ECU).

2007

Santos got past Blooming (BOL).

Paraná dispatched Cobreloa.

2008

Cruzeiro eliminated Cerro Porteño.

2009

Palmeiras overcame Real Potosí (BOL).

2010

Cruzeiro got past Real Potosí (BOL).

2011

Corinthians was eliminated by Once Caldas.

Grêmio overcame Liverpool-URU.

2012

Flamengo dispatched Real Potosí (BOL).

Internacional eliminated Once Caldas.

2013

Grêmio eliminated LDU.

São Paulo got past Bolívar.

2014

Athletico knocked out Sporting Cristal.

Botafogo got past Deportivo Quito.

2015

Corinthians knocked out Once Caldas.

2016

São Paulo dispatched Universidad César Vallejo (PER).

2017

Athletico got past Millonarios and Deportivo Capiatá (PAR) to reach the group stage.

Botafogo reached the main stage of the Libertadores after knocking out Colo-Colo and Olimpia.

2018

Chapecoense was eliminated by Nacional still in the second preliminary phase

Vasco got past Universidad de Concepción (CHI) and Jorge Wilstermann to reach the group stage

2019

Atlético-MG got past Danubio and Defensor Sporting to reach the group stage.

São Paulo fell to Talleres already in the second phase.

2020

Internacional got past Universidad de Chile and Tolima to reach the group stage.

Corinthians fell to Guaraní-PAR still in the second preliminary phase.

2021

Grêmio eliminated Ayacucho (PER), but fell to Del Valle in the 3rd phase.

Santos reached the group stage after eliminating Deportivo Lara (VEN) and San Lorenzo.

2022

Fluminense dispatched Millonarios, but was eliminated by Olimpia in the 3rd phase.

América-MG reached the group stage after overcoming Guaraní-PAR and Barcelona de Guayaquil.

2023

Atlético-MG overcame Carabobo (VEN) and Millonarios to reach the group stage.

Fortaleza eliminated Deportivo Maldonado (URU), but fell to Cerro Porteño in the 3rd phase.

2024

Botafogo eliminated Aurora (BOL) and then overcame Red Bull Bragantino.

The aforementioned Massa Bruta had gotten past Águilas Doradas (COL) before falling to the future champion.

2025

Bahia reached the group stage after getting past The Strongest and Boston River (URU).

Corinthians knocked out Universidad Central (VEN), but fell to Barcelona de Guayaquil in the third phase.

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

📸 Hector Vivas - 2025 Getty Images