The group stage draw for the 2026 CONMEBOL Sudamericana has taken place, with the 32 participating teams now knowing their opponents and schedules for the continent’s second-tier club competition.
Sudamericana 2026: The Groups are Set
GRUPO A
América de Cali advanced past Bucaramanga in the preliminary phase and represents Colombia in the tournament.
Tigre enjoyed a strong 2025 campaign, earning qualification for the Sudamericana, where they will look to surpass their 2012 performance that saw them fall in the final to São Paulo.
Macará finished top of the second stage of the Liga Ecuabet and overcame Orense in the preliminary round.
Alianza Atlético finished fifth in the Liga 1 table and qualified for the Sudamericana preliminary round, defeating Garcilaso 2-0 to reach the group stage.
GRUPO B
Atlético Mineiro closed out the Brasileirão with a dominant win, finishing 11th and securing a spot as Brazil’s fourth representative.
Cienciano secured their place in the competition as the last qualifying team in Peru, defeating Ayacucho FC 2-1 and finishing eighth on aggregate thanks to goal difference. They eliminated Melgar on penalties in the preliminary round and will look to replicate their 2003 Sudamericana title run.
Puerto Cabello finished as the runner-up in the 2025 Torneo Clausura and qualified for the 2026 CONMEBOL Sudamericana. They advanced to the group stage after eliminating Monagas on penalties in the preliminary round.
Juventud were unable to overcome DIM in the preliminary round of the Libertadores and will now compete in the second continental tournament.
GRUPO C
São Paulo finished eighth in the 2025 Brasileirão, securing a spot in the Sudamericana as Brazil’s first representative. They won the Sudamericana in 2012.
Millonarios will enter the preliminary phase after finishing eighth in the accumulated league table. They defeated Nacional in the classic to secure their place in the group stage.
Boston River finished sixth and earned a spot in the Sudamericana preliminary round. They eliminated Racing in the preliminary round to qualify for the group stage.
O’Higgins were eliminated in the third preliminary round of the Libertadores and will now compete in the Sudamericana.
GRUPO D
Santos avoided relegation on the final day of the Brasileirão after a 3-0 win over Cruzeiro, climbing to 12th place and securing a spot in the Sudamericana.
San Lorenzo returns to the Sudamericana after finishing seventh in the league standings. They were crowned champions of the competition in 2002.
Deportivo Cuenca finished second in the second stage of the Liga Ecuabet. They defeated Libertad in the preliminary round to advance to the Sudamericana group stage.
Recoleta will also compete in the competition from the preliminary phase after finishing sixth in the accumulated standings. They eliminated Nacional in the preliminary round.
GRUPO E
Racing qualified for the Sudamericana based on their position in the annual table. They were champions in 2024.
Caracas finished sixth in the annual standings and will once again be present in the competition. They played the preliminary round against Metropolitanos, winning on penalties to reach the group stage.
Independiente Petrolero also joined the qualifiers for the first phase of the Sudamericana after finishing sixth in the Bolivian football table. They won their preliminary round match and advanced to the group stage.
Botafogo, the champions of the 2024 Libertadores, suffered a major upset in this edition of the top continental competition and will now play in the Sudamericana.
GRUPO F
Grêmio won their final match of the Brasileirão, climbing to ninth place in the table and securing a ticket to the 2026 Copa Sudamericana.
Palestino will play in the Sudamericana for the second consecutive year after occupying sixth place in the table. They upset Universidad de Chile in the preliminary round and will compete in the group stage.
Montevideo City Torque secured the last spot by finishing eighth in the accumulated table of the Uruguayan Championship. They defeated Defensor Sporting in the preliminary round.
Riestra finished in sixth position and surprised everyone by qualifying for an international cup for the first time in their history.
GRUPO G
Olimpia finished seventh and will have to compete in the Copa Sudamericana from the preliminary phase. They defeated Trinidense 1-0 and earned a spot in the group stage.
Vasco Da Gama will play in the Copa Sudamericana 2026 based on their position in the Brasileirão table.
After participating in 2023, Audax Italiano once again earned a spot in the competition after finishing fifth in the annual table. They played the preliminary round, defeating Cobresal and advancing to the group stage.
Barracas Central earned their ticket to the Sudamericana 2026 thanks to Lanús’s triumph in 2025, which freed up a spot.
GRUPO H
River Plate accumulated 53 points throughout the year, finishing fourth in the annual table and will play in the Copa Sudamericana. They were champions in 2014.
Bragantino accumulated 48 points, finishing tenth in the Brasileirão and will be Brazil’s third representative in the competition.
Blooming accessed the preliminary phase after finishing fifth in the Bolivian tournament table. They defeated Bulo Bulo and advanced to the Sudamericana group stage.
Carabobo also bid farewell in the third preliminary round of the Libertadores, falling into pot 4 of the Sudamericana.
