The South American Cup group phase is gaining shape. On Thursday (7/3), five more teams were assured at this stage of the competition – now there are 28 in all. Only four vacancies remain, which will be filled by the teams eliminated in the third stage of the Copa Libertadores.
Racing (Uruguay) Rayo Zuliano (Venezuela), César Vallejo (Peru), Sportivo Ameliano (Paraguay) and Catholic University (Ecuador) managed to advance to the groups by winning the first phase mata-mata in this fifth. The remaining vacancies will be the losers of the following Liberators clashes:
- Botafogo x Red Bull Bragantino (Botafogo Won homecoming game by 2 to 1)
- National-PAR x Palestinian (Palestine won away game by 2 to 0)
- Always Ready x National (Always Ready won home game by 1 to 0)
- Sportivo Trinidense x Colo-Colo (teams tied for 1 to 1st round at the Trinidense's house)
South American Cup: guaranteed clubs in the group phase
- Brazil: Cruise, Athletico-PR, International, Corinthians, Fortress and Cuiabá;
- Argentina: Mouth Juniors, Racing, Defensa y Justicia, Lanús, Argentinos Juniors and Belgrano;
- Colombia: Independent Medellín and Alianza Petrolera;
- Chile: United Coquimbo and Unión La Calera;
- Turkey: Deportive Garcilaso and Caesar Vallejo;
- Venezuela: Metropolitans and Rayo Zuliano;
- Bolivia: Royal Tomayapo and National Potosi;
- Ecuador: Delfin and Technical Universitario/Universidad Catholic;
- Paraguay: Sportivo Luqueño and Sportivo Ameliano;
- Uruguay: Danubio and Racing-URU;
- Copa Libertadores: Botafogo/Red Bull Bragantino, Palestinian/National-PAR, Always Ready/National and Sportivo Trinidense/Colo-Colo.
South American Cup results on Thursday (7/3)
- Racing 2 x 0 Cerro Largo
- Rayo Zuliano 0 (4) x (2) 0 La Guaira
- Caesar Vallejo 2 x 0 Sport Huancayo
- Sportivo Ameliano 2 x 0 Olympia
- Technician Universitario 0 x 3 Catholic University
South American Cup leeway pots
At the end of the first phase, the South American Cup draw pots of 2024 are defined. The division of clubs is based on the ranking of Conmebol.
Pot 1
- Mouth Juniors (3rd of the ranking)
- Athletico-PR (6o)
- International (11o)
- Racing-ARG (20th)
- Corinthians (22)
- Defensa y Justicia (29a)
- Cruise (33o)
- Lanús (35a)
Pot 2
- Fortress (39a)
- Argentine Juniors (46a)
- Independent Medellin (51a)
- Delfin (78o)
- Unión La Calera (80o)
- Danubio (87o)
- Metropolitan (91o)
- United coking (95o)
Pot 3
- Catholic University-EQU (99o)
- Caesar Vallejo (118o)
- Sportivo Luqueño (133o)
- Cuiabá (142o)
- National Potosí (167)
- Belgrano (195o)
- Racing-URU (210o)
- Sportivo Ameliano (236o)
Pot 4
- Deportivo Garcilaso (no ranking)
- Real Tomayapo (without ranking)
- Alianza Petrolera (without ranking)
- Rayo Zuliano (no ranking)
- Botafogo/Red Bull Bragantino
- Palestinian/National-PAR
- Always Ready/National
- Sportivo Trinidense/Colo-Colo
When's the South American draw?
The draw of the South American Cup group phase will take place on March 18 – the same date as the Copa Libertadores definition.
The Brazilians confirmed in the tournament are Athletico-PR, International, Corinthians, Fortress, Cuiabá and Cruise.
The keys to Sula will have another club from Brazil, because Botafogo and Bragantino face each other in the third preliminary phase of Liberators. The one-way duel ended with the carioca club's two-to-one triumph.
According to Conmebol, two teams from one country will not be allowed to be in the same South American group.
South American Cup 2024
The 2024 South American Cup will have 56 participants. In the first phase, 32 clubs perform a single duel with a rival from the same country to define the 16 who advance. There are four teams from Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay and Venezuela.
Os 16 ganhadores se juntam aos 12 que se garantiram diretamente na fase de grupos – seis do Brasil e seis da Argentina. Haverá, ainda, a entrada de quatro times derrotados na terceira fase preliminar da Copa Libertadores.
Os grupos da Sul-Americana terão seis rodadas, com cada participante fazendo três jogos em casa e três fora.
Os primeiros colocados vão às oitavas de final, enquanto os segundos medem forças em playoffs (ida e volta) com os oito eliminados na terceira posição de suas chaves na Libertadores.
Oitavas de final, quartas e semifinais também ocorrerão em duas partidas. Já a decisão será em jogo único e em campo neutro.
Calendário da Sul-Americana
- Fase prévia (jogo único): 5, 6 e 7/3
- Rodada 1: 3/4
- Rodada 2: 10/4
- Rodada 3: 24/4
- Rodada 4: 8/5
- Rodada 5: 15/5
- Rodada 6: 29/5
- Playoffs: 17/7 e 24/7
- Oitavas: 14/8 e 21/8
- Quartas: 18/9 e 25/9
- Semifinal: 23/10 e 30/10
- Final: 23/11
