- The 'Ciudadano' won Group F with 13 points, finished above Grêmio and qualified directly for the Round of 16, where they will face Tigre: the first leg will be played in Victoria on August 12, with the return fixture at the Centenario on August 19.
- In only their second appearance in the CONMEBOL Sudamericana, Montevideo City Torque have produced the best international campaign in their young history with a bold and ambitious approach.
Montevideo City Torque had to navigate the entire route to earn a place among the final 16 of the 'Gran Conquista'. First, they came through the all-Uruguayan Preliminary Phase tie with a 1-0 victory over Defensor Sporting, decided by a Franco Romero header. They then entered a Group F that required them to compete against Grêmio, Palestino and Deportivo Riestra, three opponents with very different styles.
Marcelo Méndez’s side responded with personality. They defeated Grêmio at the Centenario, won both matches against Palestino, produced a 4-1 victory over Riestra and earned the draw in Porto Alegre that secured top spot. Thirteen points, four wins, 11 goals scored and only one defeat confirmed that their qualification was not simply an isolated surprise, but the product of a clear and recognisable identity.
City Torque became one of the most productive teams in the Group Stage. Alongside Salomón Rodríguez’s presence in the penalty area, they benefited from Esteban Obregón’s attacking runs, Franco Pizzichillo’s experience, Gonzalo Montes’ set-piece delivery and Eduardo Agüero’s goalscoring contributions. Even players in defensive positions added to the tally: Pizzichillo and Agüero combined for four of the team’s goals in the group.
Their next challenge will be Tigre, who advanced from the Playoffs after eliminating Nacional 4-2 on aggregate. The tie will begin at the José Dellagiovanna and be decided at the Centenario, where the 'Ciudadano' remain unbeaten in CONMEBOL competitions.
Montevideo City Torque in the 2026 CONMEBOL Sudamericana: Results and Schedule
Preliminary Phase
Montevideo City Torque 1-0 Defensor Sporting (Franco Romero, assisted by Gonzalo Montes)
Group Stage — Group F
Matchday 1: Montevideo City Torque 1-0 Grêmio (Eduardo Agüero, assisted by Esteban Obregón)
Matchday 2: Palestino 0-2 Montevideo City Torque (Salomón Rodríguez, assisted by Gonzalo Montes, and Sebastián Gallegos, own goal)
Matchday 3: Deportivo Riestra 2-1 Montevideo City Torque (Facundo Silvera / Juan Cruz Randazzo, brace)
Matchday 4: Montevideo City Torque 1-0 Palestino (Franco Pizzichillo)
Matchday 5: Montevideo City Torque 4-1 Deportivo Riestra (Ignacio Arce, own goal; Jonatan Goitía, own goal; Salomón Rodríguez, assisted by Esteban Obregón; and Eduardo Agüero, assisted by Facundo Silvera / Alexander Díaz, assisted by Jonatan Goitía)
Matchday 6: Grêmio 2-2 Montevideo City Torque (Gabriel Mec and Carlos Vinícius, penalty / Salomón Rodríguez, assisted by Facundo Silvera, and Franco Pizzichillo, free-kick)
CONMEBOL Sudamericana Round of 16
First Leg: Tigre vs. Montevideo City Torque — Wednesday, August 12, 7:00 p.m., José Dellagiovanna Stadium, Victoria
Second Leg: Montevideo City Torque vs. Tigre — Wednesday, August 19, 9:30 p.m., Centenario Stadium, Montevideo
Montevideo City Torque Coach in the 2026 CONMEBOL Sudamericana: Marcelo Méndez
Marcelo Méndez took charge in July 2025, when the club’s immediate objective was to move clear of the domestic relegation battle. His impact was immediate: City Torque finished third in the Clausura, secured their top-flight status and qualified for the CONMEBOL Sudamericana. Less than a year later, he guided them to first place in their continental group, ahead of Grêmio.
The Uruguayan coach had previously managed Progreso, Danubio, Liverpool and Defensor Sporting, as well as Atlético de San Luis in Mexico and Gimnasia y Esgrima La Plata in Argentina. He won the 2020 Clausura with Liverpool and lifted the inaugural Copa AUF Uruguay with Defensor.
His team try to take the initiative regardless of the opponent. They look to build from the back, push their full-backs high, press to regain possession in the opposition half and fill the penalty area with players arriving from different lines. That conviction explains much of their campaign: City Torque did not change their approach even against Grêmio and took four of the six points available against the Brazilian side.
The system also leaves room for adaptation. In Chile, they accepted spells without the ball and attacked efficiently; against Riestra, they responded to an uncomfortable defeat with a devastating attacking display; and in Porto Alegre, they knew how to suffer when the match demanded that they defend top spot. Méndez’s identity is not simply about possession, but about deciding how his team want each match to be played.
Full Montevideo City Torque Squad for the 2026 CONMEBOL Sudamericana
Goalkeepers: 1. Franco Torgnascioli - 12. Mathias Aguiar - 13. Matias Rodriguez - 25. Martin Almeida.
Defenders: 2. Brian Gutierrez - 3. Kevin Silva - 4. Valentino Würth - 5. Franco Pizzichillo - 6. Nahuel Leivas - 15. Ezequiel Busquets - 17. Eduardo Agüero - 21. Nicolas Perez - 22. Benjamin Garcia - 24. Gary Kagelmacher - 26. Facundo Silvera - 27. Jose Taran - 30. Juan Quintana - 33. Jean Lopez - 34. Fabricio Silveira.
Midfielders: 8. Pablo Siles - 14. Bautista Kociubinski - 20. Gonzalo Montes - 23. Lucas Dure - 28. Alexander Silvera - 32. Sebastian Caceres - 35. Ignacio Melian - 36. Alessio Cartagena - 37. Facundo Rodriguez - 38. Lautaro Silveira.
Forwards: 7. Braian Andrade - 9. Ederson Rodriguez - 10. Esteban Obregon - 11. Alexander Da Silva - 16. Ignacio Molina - 18. Ramiro Lecchini - 19. Diogo Guzman - 29. Facundo Martinez - 31. Yonatan Muñoz.
Montevideo City Torque Key Player in the 2026 CONMEBOL Sudamericana: Franco Pizzichillo
Pizzichillo’s international campaign can be measured by much more than his two goals. He scored the winner against Palestino with a late run from deep and converted a superb free-kick against Grêmio in Porto Alegre to put City Torque temporarily ahead. His involvement also forced the two own goals that opened the scoring in the emphatic victory over Deportivo Riestra.
His influence comes from his versatility. He can operate as a full-back, wing-back or right midfielder, providing width when City Torque dominate possession and moving inside to help with the build-up. He also brings a set-piece threat that has become one of the team’s most dangerous weapons.
At the club since 2018, Pizzichillo also represents a link between different stages of the institution’s development. He experienced the club’s transformation, took part in its first CONMEBOL Sudamericana campaign and was also involved in qualification for the CONMEBOL Libertadores. In 2026, at 30 years of age, he has brought all that experience into the 'Ciudadano’s' best-ever continental run.
Montevideo City Torque Top Scorer in the 2026 CONMEBOL Sudamericana: Salomón Rodríguez
Salomón Rodríguez finished the Group Stage as the team’s leading scorer with three goals. He opened the scoring in the win over Palestino in Chile with a header, netted the third goal in the emphatic victory over Riestra and also found the target in Porto Alegre, where he attacked the space behind the Grêmio defence and finished with precision.
The 26-year-old striker returned to Uruguayan football on loan from Colo-Colo after previous spells with Rentistas and Godoy Cruz. At City Torque, he rediscovered continuity and confidence, surpassing 10 goals during the first half of the year and establishing himself as the focal point of Marcelo Méndez’s attack.
His contribution goes beyond finishing. Rodríguez occupies centre-backs, provides a direct outlet when the team needs to bypass pressure and creates space for the forward runs of Obregón, Pizzichillo and the midfielders. Against Tigre, his battle with the central defenders will be one of the key tactical duels of the tie.
Montevideo City Torque Factor X in the 2026 CONMEBOL Sudamericana: Eduardo Agüero
Developed in the club’s youth system, Eduardo Agüero has turned the Sudamericana into his continental breakthrough stage. The 22-year-old defender started all six matches in Group F and scored twice: the historic winner against Grêmio at the Centenario and the final goal in the 4-1 victory over Riestra.
Agüero can play as a right-back, wing-back or centre-back. His power allows him to cover ground quickly and support the attack without losing his effectiveness in defensive duels. In a system that demands full-backs contribute to the build-up and reach the opposition box, his work rate is fundamental.
The tie against Tigre may require both sides of his game. In Victoria, he will have to deal with the Argentine side’s direct play and second balls; at the Centenario, his forward runs could help break down a compact defence. That ability to influence the game at both ends of the pitch makes him the 'Ciudadano’s' Factor X.
Montevideo City Torque History in the CONMEBOL Sudamericana
Their international debut came in the 2021 CONMEBOL Sudamericana. City Torque shared Group B with Independiente, Bahia and Guabirá, lost just one of their six matches and finished second with 11 points. The campaign included two 4-0 victories over Guabirá and a memorable 4-2 win against Bahia in Brazil, but the format at the time meant only the group winners advanced.
In 2022, they took another step forward and made their CONMEBOL Libertadores debut. They drew 1-1 with Barcelona of Guayaquil in Montevideo and 0-0 in Ecuador before being eliminated in a lengthy penalty shootout.
The 2026 CONMEBOL Sudamericana therefore represents their third international campaign and the club’s first qualification for the Round of 16. It has also confirmed a particular strength: ahead of the home leg against Tigre, City Torque remain unbeaten at home in CONMEBOL competitions. For an institution that has yet to reach two decades of existence, eliminating Defensor Sporting, winning a group featuring Grêmio and reaching the final 16 of the competition represents a foundational chapter in the club’s history.
