The CONMEBOL Libertadores, commonly known as the Copa Libertadores, is South America’s premier club football tournament, organized annually by the South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL). The 2025 edition marks its 66th iteration, featuring clubs from ten South American countries: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, and Venezuela.
Tournament Structure and Schedule:
- First Stage: Took place from February 4–6, 2025.
- Second Stage: Occurred from February 25–27, 2025.
- Third Stage: Held from March 11–13, 2025.
- Group Stage: Begins on March 17, 2025, with matches scheduled from April 1–3, 2025, to May 27–29, 2025.
- Knockout Rounds: Commence in June, with the final slated for November 29, 2025.
Recent Highlights:
- Corinthians vs. Barcelona SC: In a gripping match in São Paulo, Corinthians aimed to overturn a 3-0 deficit from the first leg. Despite their dominance, they fell short, and Barcelona SC advanced to the group stage.
- Palmeiras’ Stance on Racism Sanction: Palmeiras’ president criticized CONMEBOL’s mild punishment of Cerro Porteño for racial abuse against Palmeiras’ U-20 player, Luighi. The Paraguayan club received a $50,000 fine and a home attendance ban, which Palmeiras deemed insufficient.
Group Stage Draw:
The group stage draw, conducted on December 19, 2024, allocated teams into four pots based on CONMEBOL rankings. The draw determined the composition of the eight groups for the upcoming matches.
For comprehensive information, including match schedules, team standings, and updates, you can visit the official CONMEBOL Libertadores website.