- The March 19 draw determined how the 32 qualified teams were divided into eight groups of four clubs each.
- Every Group Stage match will offer its own story starting on April 7, but here we highlight five in the lead-up.
The March 19 draw brought the wait to an end and gave shape to the 2026 CONMEBOL Sudamericana: 32 teams, eight groups, and a schedule that will begin to unfold from April 7. But beyond the final structure, something else emerges from the pots—the stories embedded in each matchup, in past encounters, in shirts that carry memory. Every game becomes an excuse to tell a story again.
Because in South American football, matchups are never entirely new. There is always a thread connecting them to the past: a tie left unfinished, an elimination that still stings, a feat remembered as inspiration. Even when squads change and contexts evolve, something endures—an identity, a style of play, an inherited expectation.
The Group Stage is where these narratives begin to take shape. It is the stage where early leadership is defined, where surprises emerge, and where some teams start to suggest they can go beyond expectations. It is also the moment when favorites must prove their status—not only through reputation, but through performance.
Within this opening stretch, certain matchups naturally capture attention. Some because of the historical weight of the clubs, others due to their current form, and others because of that hard-to-explain blend of expectation and symbolism. Matches that, even before being played, already hint at something more. These are five fixtures that, because of their significance, context, or narrative, stand out as must-watch encounters ahead of the Group Stage.
Atlético Mineiro - Cienciano
Atlético Mineiro arrives to this CONMEBOL Sudamericana as one of the constants in South American football over the past two years. In 2024, they reached the CONMEBOL Libertadores final, where they fell to Botafogo at the Monumental Stadium in Buenos Aires. In 2025, they repeated that run all the way to the final match of the CONMEBOL Sudamericana, ending in a penalty shootout defeat against Lanús at the Defensores del Chaco Stadium in Asunción.
If Atlético Mineiro represents the present of South American football, Cienciano will aim to recover the prominence that once made them one of the pioneers of the CONMEBOL Sudamericana. It was in 2003 when they made history by becoming the first Peruvian club to win an international title—an achievement still fondly remembered in Cusco after their triumph over River Plate in the final.
With the powerful presence of Hulk as a common thread, Galo will embark on a new continental campaign with the objective of lifting another international trophy, as they did in the 2013 CONMEBOL Libertadores when the legendary Ronaldinho led them to glory. For Cienciano, this will serve as a major test to measure the true scale of their ambitions. Both teams share Group B alongside Juventud (Uruguay) and Academia Puerto Cabello (Venezuela).
Wednesday, April 29 – 19:30
Cienciano (PER) vs Atlético Mineiro (BRA) – Group B – Inca Garcilaso de la Vega Stadium, Cusco
Thursday, May 21 – 19:00
Atlético Mineiro (BRA) vs Cienciano (PER) – Group B – Arena MRV, Belo Horizonte
São Paulo - Millonarios
The São Paulo Tricolor is one of the continent’s most traditional clubs—a three-time CONMEBOL Libertadores champion and three-time world champion—with a strong international pedigree that also extends to the CONMEBOL Sudamericana, where it lifted the title in 2012 against Tigre and now aims to repeat that feat more than a decade later.
Sitting at the top of the Brasileirão after the first seven matchdays, the Brazilian side parted ways with head coach Hernán Crespo. The draw handed them a demanding challenge in Group C, where they will also face Boston River (Uruguay) and O’Higgins (Chile).
Their clash with Millonarios promises to be one of the most compelling matchups of the opening stage. El Ballet Azul arrives in the CONMEBOL Sudamericana Group Stage boosted by having eliminated Atlético Nacional in the preliminary round of a new edition of the Colombian Superclásico—one they repeated days later in the domestic league.
Tuesday, April 28 – 19:30
Millonarios (COL) vs São Paulo (BRA) – Group C – Nemesio Camacho “El Campín” Stadium, Bogotá
Tuesday, May 19 – 21:30
São Paulo (BRA) vs Millonarios (COL) – Group C – Morumbis Stadium, São Paulo
Santos - San Lorenzo
Santos and San Lorenzo were drawn together in Group D, where they will also face Deportivo Cuenca (Ecuador) and debutants Recoleta (Paraguay). Their clash stands out as one of the main attractions on the South American calendar. The presence of Neymar—CONMEBOL Libertadores champion in 2011—will make Peixe a team to watch closely for fans across the continent and around the world.
The historic São Paulo club experienced a dramatic end to the season: a 3–0 win over Cruzeiro on the final matchday of the Brasileirão allowed them to avoid relegation and climb to 12th place, securing a spot in the CONMEBOL Sudamericana. The team forever associated with Pelé is going through a rebuilding phase, but with the boost provided by Neymar’s presence, it returns to the international stage aiming to regain prominence.
San Lorenzo, meanwhile, will return to the CONMEBOL Sudamericana after finishing seventh in the Argentine annual standings. Champions of this competition in 2002—when they secured the first international title in their history, later reinforced by the 2014 CONMEBOL Libertadores—the Boedo club will look to make a strong impact on the continent once again. With their competitive identity, the historical weight of their shirt, and a crop of young players who have delivered over the past year, El Ciclón will aim to replicate past international feats—and Neymar’s Santos could serve as an early benchmark.
Tuesday, April 28 – 19:00
San Lorenzo (ARG) vs Santos (BRA) – Group D – Pedro Bidegain Stadium, Buenos Aires
Wednesday, May 20 – 19:00
Santos (BRA) vs San Lorenzo (ARG) – Group D – Urbano Caldeira Stadium, Santos
Racing - Botafogo
It hasn’t been long since Racing and Botafogo met in the CONMEBOL Recopa Sudamericana final. Fogão arrived as CONMEBOL Libertadores champions after defeating Atlético Mineiro in the final held at the Monumental Stadium, while La Academia had earned its place by winning the CONMEBOL Sudamericana against Cruzeiro in Asunción. Racing asserted its dominance in the head-to-head, winning both legs by an identical 2–0 scoreline to lift the trophy with a commanding 4–0 aggregate.
After reaching the semifinals of the 2025 CONMEBOL Libertadores, Racing will approach this edition of the tournament aiming to replicate its 2024 campaign. Despite several changes to the squad, the leadership of Santiago Sosa, the attacking runs of Gabriel Rojas, and the goals of Adrián Martínez remain key pillars, along with Gustavo Costas’ guidance from the bench.
Botafogo, meanwhile, took part in the preliminary phase of the 2026 CONMEBOL Libertadores and will compete in the CONMEBOL Sudamericana after suffering a home defeat to Barcelona Sporting Club. With a squad that still includes some of the players who conquered the continent, Fogão shapes up as one of the potential contenders in a tournament where they will also face Caracas (Venezuela) and Independiente Petrolero (Bolivia).
Wednesday, April 15 – 19:00
Racing (ARG) vs Botafogo (BRA) – Group E – Presidente Perón Stadium, Avellaneda
Wednesday, May 6 – 21:30
Botafogo (BRA) vs Racing (ARG) – Group E – Nilton Santos Stadium, Rio de Janeiro
Olimpia - Vasco da Gama
Two more CONMEBOL Libertadores champions will meet in Group G. The Paraguayan Decano has lifted the trophy three times—in 1979, 1990, and 2002—along with four runner-up finishes. Vasco da Gama, meanwhile, claimed South America’s most prestigious title in 1998 after defeating Barcelona of Ecuador in the final.
Olimpia qualified for the CONMEBOL Sudamericana after finishing seventh in the aggregate standings and reached the Group Stage by defeating Trinidense thanks to a goal from Rubén Lezcano in the preliminary round. The side managed by Pablo “Vitamina” Sánchez is currently enjoying strong form, sitting top of the 2026 Apertura after eleven matchdays.
The historic Rio de Janeiro club entered the CONMEBOL Sudamericana with the final available berth after finishing 14th in the 2025 Brasileirão. Champions of the CONMEBOL Libertadores in 1998—a competition they have not played since 2018—they will take part in the Sudamericana for the ninth time in their history. In 2025, marking their return after five years, they were eliminated by Independiente del Valle in the Round of 16 playoffs. Runners-up in the most recent Copa do Brasil, the Gigante da Colina share Group G with Audax Italiano (Chile) and Barracas Central (Argentina).
Thursday, April 30 – 19:00
Vasco da Gama (BRA) vs Olimpia (PAR) – Group G – São Januário Stadium, Rio de Janeiro
Wednesday, May 20 – 19:00
Olimpia (PAR) vs Vasco da Gama (BRA) – Group G – UENO Defensores del Chaco Stadium, Asunción
