Copa Libertadores: Dates, teams, format and more

The Copa Libertadores is the highest level of competition in South American club football.

Copa Libertadores dates

The 2025 Copa Libertadores gets underway on Tuesday 4th February, 2025, and ends runs through until Saturday 29th November, 2025.

Copa Libertadores format

Teams from Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay and Venezuela compete in the Copa Libertadores, usually qualifying by virtue of winning domestic tournaments, such as the Apertura and Clausara, or finishing in the upper echelons of their respective leagues.

Argentina, Brazil and Chile use a format similar to the European leagues, based on domestic league position, with one spot being granted to the domestic cup winners.

There are three qualification stages prior to the group stages of the Copa Libertadores, where four teams will ultimately progress to join the 28 'automatically qualified' teams in the groups.

This stage of the event features eight groups of four teams, whereby the sides who finish first and second will advance through to the knockout rounds.

From the last 16 onwards, two-legged, home and away affairs, will determine the two sides who face each other in the showpiece final, with the tournament winner being determined by the outcome of the final.

Copa Libertadores teams

The confirmed teams for the 2025 tournament are:

Argentina

• Racing

• Velez Sarsfield

• Estudiantes

• Central Cordoba

• Talleres

• River Plate

• Boca Juniors

Bolivia

• San Antonio Bulo Bulo

• Bolivar

• The Strongest

• Blooming

Brazil

• Botafogo

• Flamengo

• Palmeiras

• Fortaleza

• Internacional

• São Paulo

• Corinthians

• Bahia

Chile

• Colo-Colo

• Universidad de Chile

• Deportes Iquique

• Ñublense

Colombia

• Atlético Bucaramanga

• Atletico Nacional

• Deportes Tolima

• Santa Fe

Ecuador

• Barcelona Sporting Club

• Independiente del Valle

• Barcelona

• El Nacional

Paraguay

• El Nacional

• Olimpia

• Libertad

• Cerro Porteño

• Club Nacional

Peru

• Universitario

• Sporting Cristal

• Melgar

• Alianza Lima

Uruguay

• Peñarol

• Club Nacional de Football

• Boston River

• Defensor Sporting

Venezuela

• Deportivo Táchira

• Carabobo

• Universidad Central

• Monagas

Copa Libertadores history

The Copa Libertadores was created in 1960 and is the club football competition for the South American continent.

The competition was initially only played between the champions of the South American leagues, but has now expanded to 32 teams from the group stages onwards.

Mexican clubs competed in the competition from 2000 until 2016.

The most successful club in Copa Libertadores history is Argentinian side Independiente, who boast seven titles.

Rivals Boca Juniors have won the competition six times, one more than Uruguayan side Penarol, who have reigned supreme five times.