Botafogo and Bahia set unwanted record for Brazil in the Libertadores | OneFootball

Brazilian football suffered a heavy blow this week. With the eliminations of Botafogo and Bahia, the preliminary phase of the 2026 Copa Libertadores has become an unprecedented negative milestone: it's the first time in history that two clubs from the country are eliminated before even reaching the group stage in a single edition of the tournament.

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Until now, Brazil used to lament isolated falls — wounds that still take time to heal for fans of Corinthians, São Paulo, and Grêmio. However, the "double fiasco" of 2026 raises concerns about the preparation of teams for the start of the continental calendar.

Botafogo and Bahia: The falls of 2026

Botafogo could not withstand Barcelona de Guayaquil. The Rio team, seeking to return to the competition's spotlight, was halted by the Ecuadorian tradition after being defeated 1-0 at Nilton Santos.

Meanwhile, Bahia, in a match that seemed accessible on paper, was surprised by the organization of O’Higgins from Chile, frustrating the plans of the Steel Squad in their international journey.

The history of "upsets" and disappointments

The early eliminations of Brazilian teams began to take dramatic turns in 2011, with the fall of Ronaldo and Roberto Carlos's Corinthians to Tolima. Since then, the number of spots for Brazil has increased, but the risk of the "Pre-Libertadores" has remained latent.

In the last two years, the scenario was already showing warning signs. In 2025, Barcelona de Guayaquil itself had already been the executioner of Corinthians. Now, the Ecuadorian club returns to haunt the country by dispatching the Alvinegro.

All Brazilians eliminated before the group stage

What does this mean for the season?

For Botafogo and Bahia, the early elimination forces an immediate overhaul of goals and budget. Without the group stage prizes, the teams now turn their attention to domestic competitions, under strong pressure from their fans.

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