Copa Libertadores Explained: Format, Teams and Records
The Copa Libertadores is South America's top club competition, the equivalent of Europe's Champions League. Run by CONMEBOL, it features 47 clubs from 10 countries. Teams pass through qualifying rounds and a 32-team group stage before two-legged knockouts and a single-match final.
The format at a glance
| Stage | How it works |
|---|---|
| Qualifying stages | Clubs from lower-ranked places play knockout rounds to reach the group stage. |
| Group stage | 32 teams in eight groups of four. Each team plays the others home and away. |
| Round of 16 | Group winners and runners-up, in two-legged ties. |
| Quarter-finals and semi-finals | Two-legged knockout ties. |
| Final | A single match at a venue chosen in advance. |
The group stage
Each group plays a home-and-away round robin, giving each team six matches. The top two teams advance to the round of 16. The third-placed team drops into the knockout phase of the Copa Sudamericana, South America's second competition, while the fourth-placed team is eliminated. Clubs knocked out in late qualifying rounds can also move to the Sudamericana.
Knockout rounds
From the round of 16 to the semi-finals, ties are played over two legs, and the winner is decided on aggregate. If needed, a penalty shoot-out settles the tie, depending on the regulations for that stage.
The single-match final
For decades, the final was played over two legs in each club's own stadium. Since 2019, it has been a single match at a predetermined venue, similar to the Champions League final. The last two-legged final, in 2018, was the famous all-Argentine Superclásico between River Plate and Boca Juniors, whose second leg was moved to Madrid. Read about it in football's biggest derbies.
Who has won the most?
| Club | Titles |
|---|---|
| Independiente (Argentina) | 7 |
| Boca Juniors (Argentina) | 6 |
Argentine and Brazilian clubs have historically dominated the competition, with Uruguayan clubs such as Peñarol and Nacional among the other famous winners. The first edition was played in 1960, and Peñarol were the first champions.
How it differs from the Champions League
- Format: the Libertadores retains groups of four, while the Champions League uses a 36-team league phase.
- Conditions: teams travel huge distances and may play at very high altitude in cities such as La Paz and Quito.
- Calendar: it largely follows the calendar year, with the final near the end of the year.
The name
"Libertadores" means "liberators" in Spanish and Portuguese. The competition honours the leaders of South America's independence movements, such as Simón Bolívar and José de San Martín.
Why fans in Bangladesh watch
Support for Argentina and Brazil is huge in Bangladesh, so many fans follow the Libertadores to see the next generation of South American talent before it moves to Europe. Matches usually take place in the early morning Bangladesh time, so checking results on EHScore when you wake up is often the easiest option. See kick-off times in Bangladesh.
Frequently asked questions
Can Mexican clubs play in the Libertadores?
Mexican clubs took part as invited teams for many years, but they are not part of the current competition.
What does the winner qualify for?
The champions qualify for the following season's Libertadores and for FIFA's international club competitions, with details set by each tournament's rules.
What is the Copa Sudamericana?
It is South America's second-tier club competition, comparable to the Europa League.