CONMEBOL Sudamericana group winners and the round-of-16 play-off

Identify the point at which the Libertadores club enters

The 2026 manual provides two distinct arrival routes from Libertadores. Four clubs that lose in Libertadores Phase 3 enter the Sudamericana group stage. Later, the clubs finishing third in the eight Libertadores groups enter the Sudamericana round-of-16 play-off. The former route joins the group draw and the latter joins the knockout qualification tie. The group field combines six Argentine clubs, six Brazilian clubs, 16 first-phase winners and the four Libertadores Phase 3 entrants. That makes 32 group places. The eight clubs joining later came through the completed Libertadores groups and enter at the play-off stage.

When a report says a club has moved from Libertadores to Sudamericana, record the Libertadores stage it completed. That is the fact that tells you where to look next. If it is a Phase 3 result, check the Sudamericana groups. If it is a final third-place group position, check the play-off bracket.

Check the group winner and runner-up routes

Read the play-off legs before searching for the round of 16

CONMEBOL’s manual assigns the first leg to the Libertadores third-place club and the return to the Sudamericana runner-up. Use the published fixture for the actual venue and time. The play-off stage supplies eight winners, which join the eight Sudamericana group winners in the round of 16.

A group runner-up can therefore have another confirmed tie before appearing in the round-of-16 draw. When checking a club’s result, write down whether it has reached the play-off or has won it. Follow the organiser’s result for the accepted winner, then use the round-of-16 bracket to find the next opponent.