How Boca and River could meet in the Copa Sudamericana | OneFootball

Since Boca finished second in the annual table of 2025 and River ended the year in fourth position, and neither won titles, this season finds them in two different international competitions. The Xeneize, being the best positioned, will play in the Copa Libertadores, while the Millonario will compete in the Copa Sudamericana. However, there is a chance they might face each other again.

Claudio Úbeda's team returns to the continent's top club tournament after not playing in it in 2024 and 2025 (they played in the Sudamericana and Phase 2 of the Libertadores, respectively) and already knows that to make it among the top 16, they must finish among the top two in Group D, which they share with Cruzeiro (BRA), Universidad Católica (CHI), and Barcelona (ECU).

But if they don't, they will be eliminated (if they finish 4th) or drop to the Copa Sudamericana (3rd), where they would have to face the round of 16 against a group runner-up. Only if Boca finishes third in their group is there a possibility of an international superclásico in 2026, which would be the first since 2019 (when the Millonario eliminated Boca in the Libertadores semifinals).

If River finishes in second place in Group H, which they share with Red Bull Bragantino (BRA), Blooming (BOL), and Carabobo (VEN), they will also have to face a preliminary round before the round of 16. Meeting their classic rival there will depend on the overall positioning of each. For example, if River is third among the eight second-place teams in the Sudamericana and Boca is sixth among the eight third-place teams in the Libertadores, they will play against each other.

To know if they might face each other later, we would have to wait for the round of 16 draw, which will divide group winners from the rest. Then, the bracket will be set up to the final, and there would be certainty about a potential matchup between them. Today, no fan loses sleep over this possibility, as it is very unlikely, though not impossible.

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