Copa Libertadores: what it is, the format and how it's played
August 21, 2026 · 6 min
The Copa Libertadores is the dream of every South American club. It's the most prestigious continental tournament in the region and one of the most thrilling in the world, thanks to its history, its packed stadiums and its unforgettable nights. If you want to understand how it works, here's the complete guide.
What the Copa Libertadores is
The Copa Libertadores de América is the club competition organized by CONMEBOL, the confederation that brings together South America's ten national football federations. It has been played every year since 1960, and its name pays tribute to the liberators who led the Americas to independence.
The champion earns the right to play in the Copa Intercontinental (formerly the Club World Cup) against the best teams from other continents, and secures a place in the great history of South American soccer.
How many teams take part
In its current format, 47 clubs take part from the ten CONMEBOL countries: Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay, Paraguay, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia and Venezuela. Berths are allocated based on each club's results in its domestic league.
Brazil and Argentina, given their soccer pedigree, usually supply the most teams and the most champions.
How the stages work
The tournament opens with knockout qualifying rounds, which produce the teams that join the group stage. There, 32 teams are split into eight groups of four; the top two in each group advance to the round of 16.
From then on, it's straight knockout over two legs (home and away): round of 16, quarterfinals and semifinals. Lose, and you're out.
The final: a single match
Since 2019, the grand final has been played as a one-off match at a neutral stadium chosen in advance, in the style of the Champions League final. Before that, it was contested over two legs.
That change turned the final into an event: one day, 90 (or 120) minutes, and the title on the line. It's one of the most electrifying dates on the soccer calendar.
Looking for live scores? See live scores.
← Back to all guides