2026 U-20 Copa Libertadores

2026 U-20 Copa Libertadores
Copa CONMEBOL Libertadores Sub-20
Ecuador 2026
Tournament details
Host countryEcuador
CityQuito
Dates7–22 March 2026
Teams12 (from 10 associations)
Venues3 (in 1 host city)
Final positions
ChampionsChile Santiago Wanderers (1st title)
Runners-upBrazil Flamengo
Third placeBrazil Palmeiras
Fourth placeParaguay Olimpia
Tournament statistics
Matches played22
Goals scored62 (2.82 per match)
Top scorerChile Christian Silva (4 goals)
← 2025
2027 →

The 2026 U-20 Copa CONMEBOL Libertadores (Spanish: Copa CONMEBOL Libertadores Sub-20 2026) was the 10th edition of the U-20 CONMEBOL Libertadores (also referred to as the U-20 Copa Libertadores), South America's premier under-20 club football tournament organized by CONMEBOL. It was held in Quito, Ecuador from 7 to 22 March 2026.[1][2]

The winners of the 2026 U-20 Copa Libertadores will earn the right to play against the winners of the 2025–26 UEFA Youth League in the 2026 Under-20 Intercontinental Cup.

Flamengo were the two-time defending champions, having won back-to-back titles in 2024 and 2025. Santiago Wanderers won their first title after beating Flamengo 5–4 on penalties after 1–1 draw in the final match.[3] As winners of the 2026 U-20 Copa Libertadores, Santiago Wanderers earned the right to play against the winners of the 2025–26 UEFA Youth League in the 2026 Under-20 Intercontinental Cup.

Teams

The competition will be contested by 12 teams: the title holders, the youth champions from each of the ten CONMEBOL member associations, and one additional team from the host association.[4]

Association Team Qualifying method App Previous best result
 Argentina Belgrano 2025 Cuarta División (U-20) champions[5][6] 2ndThird place (2025)
 Bolivia Bolívar 2025 U-19 Liga Nacional champions[7][8] 2ndGroup stage (2016)
 Brazil Flamengo (holders) 2025 U-20 Copa Libertadores champions 5thChampions (2024, 2025)
Palmeiras 2025 Campeonato Brasileiro Sub-20 champions[9][10] 3rdRunners-up (2025)
 Chile Santiago Wanderers 2025 Campeonato Nacional de Fútbol Formativo U-20 champions[11][12] 1st—
 Colombia Independiente Medellín 2025 Supercopa Juvenil champions[13][14] 1st—
 Ecuador (hosts) LDU Quito (Ecuador 1) 2025 Campeonato Nacional de Categorías Formativas U-19 champions[15][16] 2ndGroup stage (2022)
Universidad Católica (Ecuador 2) 2025 Campeonato Nacional de Categorías Formativas U-19 runners-up[15][17] 1st—
 Paraguay Olimpia 2025 Torneo Anual Juvenil champions[18][19] 3rdGroup stage (2024, 2025)
 Peru Sporting Cristal 2025 Torneo Juvenil Sub-18 champions[20] 5thGroup stage (2012, 2020, 2022, 2024)
 Uruguay Nacional 2025 Campeonato Uruguayo Juvenil Divisional A U-19 champions[21] 4thChampions (2018)
 Venezuela Estudiantes de Mérida 2025 U-21 Liga FUTVE Junior champions[22] 1st—

Squads

Each team could register a maximum of 20 and a minimum of 16 players, including at least 2 goalkeepers. Players born between 1 January 2005 and 31 December 2009 (ages 16 to 20) were eligible to compete in the tournament (Regulations Articles 48 and 51).[4]

Host nation and venues

Ecuador was confirmed as the host country for the tournament in December 2025,[2] with Quito announced as host the city after the groups draw.[23][24] This will be the second time that Ecuador hosts the tournament having previously done so in 2022.

The Estadio Olímpico Atahualpa and the Estadio Rodrigo Paz Delgado will host the group stage matches, while the final stage matches will be played at the Estadio Banco Guayaquil.[25][26]

Quito
Locations of the venues in Quito.
Estadio Olímpico Atahualpa Estadio Rodrigo Paz Delgado Estadio Banco Guayaquil
Capacity: 35,258 Capacity: 41,575 Capacity: 11,030

Draw

The draw for the group stage was held on 10 February 2026, 12:00 PYT (UTC−3), at the CONMEBOL headquarters in Luque, Paraguay and was conducted according to the following guidelines:[27][28]

  • The defending champions Flamengo were automatically assigned to Group A, position A1.
  • The remaining 11 teams were seeded into four pots; one of two teams and three of three teams, based on the final placement of their national association's club in the previous edition of the tournament, in order to be drawn into three groups of four.
  • Teams from the two best associations (Brazil and Argentina) were seeded into Pot 1 and drawn to the first position of groups B or C. The first team drawn was placed into Group B and the second team drawn placed into Group C.
  • Teams from the next three associations (Uruguay, Peru and Colombia) were seeded into Pot 2 and drawn to the second position of groups A, B or C.
  • Teams from the next three associations (Paraguay, Chile and Bolivia) were seeded into Pot 3 and drawn to the third position of groups A, B or C.
  • Teams from the last two associations (Ecuador 1 and Venezuela) and the additional team from the host association (Ecuador 2) were seeded into Pot 4 and drawn to the fourth position of groups A, B or C.
  • From pots 2, 3 and 4, the first team drawn was placed into Group A, the second team drawn placed into Group B and the final team drawn placed into Group C. Teams from the same association could not be drawn into the same group.
Pot 1 Pot 2 Pot 3 Pot 4

The draw resulted in the following groups:[29]

Group A
PosTeam
A1Brazil Flamengo
A2Colombia Independiente Medellín
A3Bolivia Bolívar
A4Venezuela Estudiantes de Mérida
Group B
PosTeam
B1Brazil Palmeiras
B2Peru Sporting Cristal
B3Paraguay Olimpia
B4Ecuador Universidad Católica
Group C
PosTeam
C1Argentina Belgrano
C2Uruguay Nacional
C3Chile Santiago Wanderers
C4Ecuador LDU Quito

Match officials

On 19 February 2026, the CONMEBOL Referee Commission announced a total of 11 referees and 22 assistant referees appointed for the tournament,[30][31] including a Spanish refereeing team from UEFA as part of the continuation of the UEFA–CONMEBOL memorandum of understanding signed in February 2020, which included a referee exchange programme since 2021.[32]

Group stage

The winners of each group and the best runner-up among all groups advanced to the semi-finals.

Tiebreakers

In the group stage, teams were ranked according to points earned (3 points for a win, 1 point for a draw, 0 points for a loss). If tied on points, tiebreakers were applied in the following order (Regulations Articles 20, 21):[4]

  1. Head-to-head result in games between tied teams;
    • Head-to-head points in the matches played among the tied teams;
    • Head-to-head goal difference in the matches played among the tied teams;
    • Head-to-head goals scored in the matches played among the tied teams;
  2. Goal difference;
  3. Goals scored;
  4. Fewest number of red cards received;
  5. Fewest number of yellow cards received;
  6. Drawing of lots.

All match times are local, ECT (UTC−5), as listed by CONMEBOL.[33]

Group A

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Brazil Flamengo 3 2 1 0 8 2 +6 7 Semi-finals
2 Colombia Independiente Medellín 3 1 1 1 1 1 0 4
3 Bolivia Bolívar 3 1 0 2 4 5 −1 3[a]
4 Venezuela Estudiantes de Mérida 3 1 0 2 2 7 −5 3[a]
Source: CONMEBOL
Notes:
  1. 1 2 Head-to-head points: Bolívar 3, Estudiantes de Mérida 0.
Independiente Medellín Colombia1–0Bolivia Bolívar
Martínez 84' Report
Referee: Derlis Benítez (Paraguay)
Flamengo Brazil4–1Venezuela Estudiantes de Mérida
 Report Zambrano 20'
Referee: Hernán Heras (Uruguay)
Bolívar Bolivia1–4Brazil Flamengo
Cronenbold 33' Report
Referee: Jordi Espinoza (Peru)
Independiente Medellín Colombia0–1Venezuela Estudiantes de Mérida
Report Izarra 72'
Referee: Yerson Zambrano (Ecuador)
Estudiantes de Mérida Venezuela0–3Bolivia Bolívar
Report
  • Sosa 53'
  • Borhen 83'
  • Espinoza 90+1'
Referee: Mateo Busquets (Spain)
Flamengo Brazil0–0Colombia Independiente Medellín
Report
Referee: Diego Flores (Chile)

Group B

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Brazil Palmeiras 3 2 1 0 7 1 +6 7 Semi-finals
2 Paraguay Olimpia 3 2 0 1 5 2 +3 6
3 Ecuador Universidad Católica 3 1 0 2 2 6 −4 3
4 Peru Sporting Cristal 3 0 1 2 2 7 −5 1
Source: CONMEBOL
Sporting Cristal Peru1–4Paraguay Olimpia
Mellán 11' Report
  • Freyres 31'
  • Gamarra 37'
  • Barone 41'
  • Melida 87'
Referee: Diego Flores (Chile)
Palmeiras Brazil5–0Ecuador Universidad Católica
 Report
Referee: Yender Herrera (Venezuela)
Olimpia Paraguay0–1Brazil Palmeiras
Report Erick Belé 76' (pen.)
Sporting Cristal Peru0–2Ecuador Universidad Católica
Report
  • Charcopa 2'
  • Barreto 50'
Referee: José Ortiz (Colombia)
Palmeiras Brazil1–1Peru Sporting Cristal
Felipe Teresa 66' Report Rodríguez 51'
Referee: Yender Herrera (Venezuela)
Universidad Católica Ecuador0–1Paraguay Olimpia
Report Aranda 90+5'
Referee: Hernán Heras (Uruguay)

Group C

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Chile Santiago Wanderers 3 2 1 0 7 3 +4 7 Semi-finals
2 Uruguay Nacional 3 2 0 1 6 5 +1 6
3 Ecuador LDU Quito 3 0 2 1 5 6 −1 2
4 Argentina Belgrano 3 0 1 2 3 7 −4 1
Source: CONMEBOL
Belgrano Argentina1–1Ecuador LDU Quito
Santino 17' Report R. Mina 26'
Referee: Gabriel Mendoza (Bolivia)
Nacional Uruguay0–2Chile Santiago Wanderers
Report
Referee: Mateo Busquets (Spain)
Nacional Uruguay2–1Ecuador LDU Quito
  • Soria 21'
  • J. García 23'
 Report Méndez 60'
Referee: Derlis Benítez (Paraguay)
Santiago Wanderers Chile2–0Argentina Belgrano
 Report
Referee: Andreza Siqueira (Brazil)
LDU Quito Ecuador3–3Chile Santiago Wanderers
  • Pineda 23', 24'
  • Méndez 39'
 Report
Referee: Jordi Espinoza (Peru)
Belgrano Argentina2–4Uruguay Nacional
  • Gaona 79'
  • Mendieta 90+6'
 Report
  • Dalmás 35'
  • Núñez 50' (pen.), 65', 83' (pen.)
Referee: José Ortiz (Colombia)

Ranking of group runners-up

Pos Grp Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 B Paraguay Olimpia 3 2 0 1 5 2 +3 6 Semi-finals
2 C Uruguay Nacional 3 2 0 1 6 5 +1 6
3 A Colombia Independiente Medellín 3 1 1 1 1 1 0 4
Source: CONMEBOL
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored; 4) Fewest red cards; 5) Fewest yellow cards; 6) Drawing of lots (Regulations Article 22).[4]

Final stage

The final stage will be played on a single-elimination basis and consists of the semi-finals, third place match and the final. If a match was tied at the end of regular playing time, the winner would be decided directly by a penalty shoot-out (no extra time will be played) (Regulations Article 24). The semi-final matchups will be:[4]

  • Semi-final 1 (SF1): Group A winner vs. Best runner-up
  • Semi-final 2 (SF2): Group B winner vs. Group C winner

Bracket

 
Semi-finalsFinal
 
      
 
19 March
 
 
Brazil Flamengo2
 
22 March
 
Paraguay Olimpia1
 
Brazil Flamengo1 (4)
 
19 March
 
Chile Santiago Wanderers1 (5)
 
Brazil Palmeiras1
 
 
Chile Santiago Wanderers2
 
Third place
 
 
22 March
 
 
Paraguay Olimpia1 (2)
 
 
Brazil Palmeiras1 (4)

Semi-finals

Flamengo Brazil2–1Paraguay Olimpia
 Report Barone 20' (pen.)
Referee: Mateo Busquets (Spain)
Palmeiras Brazil1–2Chile Santiago Wanderers
Riquelme Fillipi 15' Report Silva 63' (pen.), 72'
Referee: José Ortiz (Colombia)

Third place match

Olimpia Paraguay1–1Brazil Palmeiras
Freyres 82' Report Victor Gabriel 68'
Penalties
  • Grance football with red X
  • Cardozo football with check mark
  • Freyres football with red X
  • Martínez football with check mark
 2–4
Referee: Yender Herrera (Venezuela)

Final

Flamengo Brazil1–1Chile Santiago Wanderers
  • Alan Santos 66'
 Report
  • S. Vargas 89'
Penalties
 4–5
Referee: Hernán Heras (Uruguay)

Statistics

Goalscorers

There were 62 goals scored in 22 matches, for an average of 2.82 goals per match.

4 goals

3 goals

  • Uruguay Pavel Núñez (Nacional)
  • Brazil Ryan Roberto (Flamengo)
  • Brazil Alan Santos (Flamengo)

2 goals

1 goal

  • Chile Benjamín Adasme (Santiago Wanderers)
  • Paraguay Thiago Aranda (Olimpia)
  • Chile Lucas Avendaño (Santiago Wanderers)
  • Ecuador Andry Barreto (Universidad Católica)
  • Brazil Erick Belé (Palmeiras)
  • Bolivia Antonio Borhen (Bolívar)
  • Ecuador Keiner Charcopa (Universidad Católica)
  • Bolivia Ronald Cronenbold (Bolívar)
  • Uruguay Jonathan Dalmás (Nacional)
  • Brazil Eduardo (Palmeiras)
  • Bolivia Matías Espinoza (Bolívar)
  • Brazil Felipe Teresa (Palmeiras)
  • Chile Ignacio Flores (Santiago Wanderers)
  • Paraguay Junior Gamarra (Olimpia)
  • Argentina Tiago Gaona (Belgrano)
  • Uruguay Juan Ignacio García (Nacional)
  • Venezuela Ander Izarra (Estudiantes de Mérida)
  • Brazil Josmar (Flamengo)
  • Colombia Santiago Martínez (Independiente Medellín)
  • Peru Josemaría Mellán (Sporting Cristal)
  • Paraguay Ever Melida (Olimpia)
  • Argentina Fabricio Mendieta (Belgrano)
  • Ecuador Ruddy Mina (LDU Quito)
  • Brazil Riquelme Fillipi (Palmeiras)
  • Peru Mateo Rodríguez (Sporting Cristal)
  • Argentina Mateo Santino (Belgrano)
  • Uruguay Mateo Soria (Nacional)
  • Bolivia Iker Sosa (Bolívar)
  • Chile Cristopher Valenzuela (Santiago Wanderers)
  • Chile Víctor Vanegas (Santiago Wanderers)
  • Chile Sebastián Vargas (Santiago Wanderers)
  • Brazil Victor Gabriel (Palmeiras)
  • Venezuela Néstor Zambrano (Estudiantes de Mérida)

1 own goal

  • Ecuador Eduardo Bumbila (Universidad Católica, against Palmeiras)
  • Ecuador Paulo Riande (Universidad Católica, against Palmeiras)

References

  1. ↑ "Calendario de Competiciones: Torneos CONMEBOL 2026" [Competitions Schedule: 2026 CONMEBOL Tournaments] (in Spanish). CONMEBOL. 28 July 2025.
  2. 1 2 "Ecuador será la casa de la Copa Libertadores sub-20 2026" [Ecuador to host the 2026 U-20 Libertadores] (in Spanish). El Comercio. 11 December 2025.
  3. ↑ "¡Festeja Valparaíso! Santiago Wanderers hizo historia en la CONMEBOL Libertadores Sub20" [Valparaíso celebrate! Santiago Wanderers make history in the CONMEBOL U-20 Copa Libertadores] (in Spanish). CONMEBOL. 22 March 2026.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 "REGLAMENTO CONMEBOL Libertadores Sub20 2026" (PDF) (in Spanish). CONMEBOL. 16 December 2025.
  5. ↑ "ASOCIACIÓN DEL FÚTBOL ARGENTINO BOLETÍN ESPECIAL Nº 6640 REGLAMENTO DEL TORNEO DE CATEGORÍAS JUVENILES DE LA LIGA PROFESIONAL DE FÚTBOL DE LA AFA TEMPORADA 2025 TROFEO "SALVADOR CAPIZZI"" (PDF) (in Spanish). Argentine Football Association. 7 March 2025.
  6. ↑ "¡Vamos los pibes! La cuarta división de Belgrano se consagró campeona y jugará la Copa Libertadores" [Come on, guys! Belgrano's fourth division team won the championship and will play in the Copa Libertadores] (in Spanish). La Voz del Interior. 8 November 2025. Retrieved 21 December 2025.
  7. ↑ "Bolívar y Oriente Petrolero disputarán la final de la Liga Nacional Sub-19" [Bolívar and Oriente Petrolero will compete in the final of the U-19 Liga Nacional] (in Spanish). Bolivian Football Federation. 18 December 2025.
  8. ↑ "Premiación Liga Nacional Sub-19" (in Spanish). Bolivian Football Federation. 19 December 2025.
  9. ↑ "Regulamento Específico da Competição Brasileiro Masculino Série A Sub-20 2025" (PDF) (in Brazilian Portuguese). Brazilian Football Confederation. 25 February 2025.
  10. ↑ "No dia do aniversário do clube, Palmeiras é tetracampeão do Brasileirão Sub-20" [On the club's anniversary, Palmeiras wins their fourth Under-20 Brasileirão title] (in Brazilian Portuguese). Brazilian Football Confederation. 26 August 2025.
  11. ↑ "FÚTBOL FORMATIVO BASES CAMPEONATO NACIONAL FUNDACIÓN COLLAHUASI CATEGORIAS SUB 15, SUB 16, SUB 18 Y SUB 20 - VARONES TEMPORADA 2025" (PDF) (in Spanish). Santiago: Asociación Nacional de Fútbol Profesional. 13 February 2025.
  12. ↑ "Copa Libertadores Sub 20: Flamengo, Olimpia o Bolívar, posibles rivales de Wanderers" [Under-20 Copa Libertadores: Flamengo, Olimpia, or Bolívar, possible opponents for Wanderers] (in Spanish). SoyChile. 23 December 2025.
  13. ↑ "Reglamento Supercopa Juvenil FCF 2025" (PDF) (in Spanish). Bogotá: Colombian Football Federation. 19 February 2025 [Approved on 7 February 2025].
  14. ↑ "Resultado Final Vuelta de la Super Copa Juvenil 2025: FCF felicita al Independiente Medellín por coronarse campeón" [2nd leg final result of the 2025 Supercopa Juvenil: FCF congratulates Independiente Medellín on becoming champions] (in Spanish). Colombian Football Federation. 24 November 2025.
  15. 1 2 "REGLAMENTO DE LOS CAMPEONATOS NACIONALES DE CATEGORIAS FORMATIVAS 2025" (PDF) (in Spanish). Guayaquil: Ecuadorian Football Federation. 14 April 2025 [Approved on 14 April 2025].
  16. ↑ "Festejó el Albo: ¡Liga de Quito fue campeón y jugará la Copa Libertadores!" [Albo celebrated: Liga de Quito won the championship and will play in the Copa Libertadores!] (in Spanish). Olé. 6 December 2025.
  17. ↑ "Ecuador recibirá la Copa Libertadores Sub‑20 2026" [Ecuador will host the 2026 U-20 Copa Libertadores] (in Spanish). El Universo. 11 December 2025.
  18. ↑ "REGLAMENTO OFICIAL TORNEO ANUAL 2024 DIVISIONES FORMATIVAS DE LA DIVISIÓN DE HONOR ASOCIACIÓN PARAGUAYA DE FUTBOL" (PDF) (in Spanish). Paraguayan Football Association. 15 February 2024.
  19. ↑ "Juvenil: Olimpia es el campeón del Torneo Anual 2025" [Youth category: Olimpia are the champion of the 2025 Torneo Anual] (in Spanish). Paraguayan Football Association. 12 August 2025.
  20. ↑ Figueroa Loayza, Diego (20 December 2025). "Sporting Cristal goleó a Alianza Lima en la final del Torneo Juvenil Sub 18 y clasificó a la Copa Libertadores Sub 20" [Sporting Cristal defeated Alianza Lima in the final of the Torneo Juvenil Sub 18 and qualified for the Under-20 Copa Libertadores] (in Spanish). Radio Programas del Perú.
  21. ↑ "Juveniles: Nacional fue campeón en tres categorías y clasificó a la Libertadores sub-20" [Youth teams: Nacional won three categories and qualified for the U-20 Copa Libertadores] (in Spanish). Montevideo Portak. 13 December 2025.
  22. ↑ "La Liga FUTVE Junior 2025 ya tiene a sus campeones" [2025 Liga FUTVE Junior has its champions] (in Spanish). Venezuelan Football Federation. 12 December 2025.
  23. ↑ Bayas, Mauricio (10 February 2026). "Ecuador será sede de la Copa Libertadores Sub 20 en marzo y están definidos los grupos" (in Spanish). Teleamazonas.
  24. ↑ Rodriguez, Ana (10 February 2026). "Así se jugará la Copa Libertadores Sub-20 en Quito" (in Spanish). Radio Pichincha.
  25. ↑ Echeverría, César (18 February 2026). "Estos son los estadios de la Libertadores Sub-20 que se disputará en Ecuador" (in Spanish). El Crack.
  26. ↑ "Copa Libertadores Sub-20 de 2026: Ecuador será sede del gran semillero del continente" (in Spanish). La Movida Online. 19 February 2026.
  27. ↑ "Sorteo de grupos para la CONMEBOL Libertadores Sub20 2026" (in Spanish). CONMEBOL. 21 January 2026.
  28. ↑ "SORTEO DE LA CONMEBOL LIBERTADORES SUB20 2026" (in Spanish). CONMEBOL. 10 February 2026 – via YouTube.
  29. ↑ "Grupos definidos para la CONMEBOL Libertadores Sub20 2026" (in Spanish). CONMEBOL. 10 February 2026.
  30. ↑ "Árbitros convocados para la CONMEBOL Libertadores Sub20 2026" (in Spanish). CONMEBOL. 19 February 2026.
  31. ↑ "Árbitros designados para la CONMEBOL Libertadores Sub20 2026" (in Spanish). CONMEBOL. 7 March 2026.
  32. ↑ "La CONMEBOL y la UEFA acuerdan cooperación en materia arbitral" [CONMEBOL and UEFA agree to cooperation in refereeing matters]. CONMEBOL.com (in Spanish). CONMEBOL. 21 April 2021.
  33. ↑ "CONMEBOL LIBERTADORES SUB 20 2026 Calendario de partidos" (PDF) (in Spanish). CONMEBOL. 17 February 2026.
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