CONMEBOL Sudamericana
Organizing bodyCONMEBOL
Founded2002 (2002)
RegionSouth America
Number of teams56 (from 10 associations)
Qualifier forRecopa Sudamericana
Copa Libertadores
Related competitionsCopa Libertadores
Current champion(s)Ecuador LDU Quito
(2nd title)
Most successful club(s)
Television broadcastersList of broadcasters
Websiteconmebolsudamericana.com
2024 Copa Sudamericana

The CONMEBOL Sudamericana, also known as the Copa Sudamericana (Spanish pronunciation: [ˈkopa suðameɾiˈkana]; Portuguese: Copa Sul-Americana [ˈkɔpɐ ˈsulɐmeɾiˈkɐnɐ]), is an annual international club football competition organized by CONMEBOL since 2002.[1] It is the second-most prestigious club competition in South American football. CONCACAF clubs were invited between 2004 and 2008.[2] The CONMEBOL Sudamericana began in 2002, replacing the separate competitions Copa Merconorte and Copa Mercosur (that had replaced Copa CONMEBOL) by a single competition.[1][2] Since its introduction, the competition has been a pure elimination tournament with the number of rounds and teams varying from year to year.

The CONMEBOL Sudamericana is considered a merger of defunct tournaments such as the Copa CONMEBOL, Copa Mercosur and Copa Merconorte.[3][4][5][6] The winner of the Copa Sudamericana becomes eligible to play in the Recopa Sudamericana, the South American supercup.[7] They gain entry to the next edition of the Copa Libertadores, South America's premier club competition, and also contest the UEFA–CONMEBOL Club Challenge, a friendly cup against the winners of the UEFA Europa League. Previously they also competed in the J.League Cup / Copa Sudamericana Championship against the winner of the Japanese League Cup.

The reigning champion of the competition is Ecuadorian club LDU Quito, who defeated Brazilian club Fortaleza in the most recent final.

Argentine clubs have accumulated the most victories with nine while containing the largest number of winning teams, with seven clubs. The cup has been won by 17 clubs. Argentine clubs Boca Juniors and Independiente as well as Brazilian club Athletico Paranaense and Ecuadorian clubs Independiente del Valle and LDU Quito are the most successful clubs in the competition's history, having won the tournament twice, with Boca Juniors being the only one to achieve it back-to-back, in 2004 and 2005.

History

Boca Juniors, Independiente, Athletico Paranaense, Independiente del Valle, and LDU Quito are currently the most successful clubs with two titles each

In 1992, the Copa CONMEBOL was an international football tournament created for South American clubs that did not qualify for the Copa Libertadores and Supercopa Sudamericana.[8] This tournament was discontinued in 1999 and replaced by the Copa Merconorte and Copa Mercosur. These tournaments started in 1998 but were discontinued in 2001.[9][10] A Pan-American club cup competition was intended, under the name of Copa Pan-Americana, but instead, the Copa Sudamericana was introduced in 2002 as a single-elimination tournament with the reigning Copa Mercosur champion, San Lorenzo.[11]

Format

Until 2016 the tournament comprised 47 teams in a knockout format, with the Argentine and Brazilian teams getting byes to the second round and the defending champions entering the competition in the round of 16.[12] Starting from the 2017 edition, the tournament implemented the following format changes:[13][14][15][16]

  • The tournament was expanded from 47 to 54 teams.
  • A total of 44 teams would directly enter the Copa Sudamericana, while a total of 10 teams eliminated from the Copa Libertadores (two best teams eliminated in the third stage of qualifying and eight third-placed teams in the group stage) would be transferred to the Copa Sudamericana, entering the competition in the second stage.[17]
  • The schedule of the tournament was extended to year-round so it would start in February and conclude in December.
  • As the Copa Libertadores and the Copa Sudamericana would be held concurrently, no team would be able to qualify for both tournaments in the same year (except those which were transferred from the Copa Libertadores to the Copa Sudamericana).
  • The Copa Sudamericana champions would no longer directly qualify for the next edition as they would now directly qualify for the group stage of the Copa Libertadores (although they would still be able to defend their title if they finished third in the group stage).
  • Brazil would be allocated six berths, decreased from eight.
  • All teams directly entering the Copa Sudamericana would enter the first stage.[17]

The competition's format was further altered ahead of the 2021 edition, in which a group stage was introduced replacing the second stage and the six qualifiers from Argentina and Brazil were given byes to that stage, with the teams from the remaining associations being drawn against a team from their same country in the first stage, ensuring that at least two teams from each association would take part in the group stage. The competition was further expanded to include all four teams eliminated from the Copa Libertadores third stage, which would also enter the group stage, while the eight third-placed teams from the Copa Libertadores group stage would enter the round of 16.[18][19] Two years later, the format for the first stage of the tournament was changed from double-legged ties to single-match ones and a knockout round prior to the round of 16 was introduced, in which the eight teams transferred from the Copa Libertadores group stage would play against the Copa Sudamericana group runners-up with the winners joining the group winners in the following stage of the competition.[20]

Trophy

The tournament shares its name with the trophy, also called the Copa Sudamericana or simply la Sudamericana, which is awarded to the Copa Sudamericana winner.[21]

La Otra Mitad de La Gloria

La Otra Mitad de La Gloria (The other half of glory) is a promotional Spanish phrase used in the context of winning or attempting on winning the Copa Sudamericana.[22] It is a term widely used by Spanish-speaking media. The tournament itself has become highly regarded among its participants since its inception. In 2004, Cienciano's conquest of the trophy ignited a party across Peru.[23] The Mexican football federation regards Pachuca's victory in 2006 as the most important title won by any Mexican club.[24]

Sponsorship

Like the Copa Libertadores, the Copa Sudamericana was sponsored by a group of multinational corporations. Like the premier South American club football tournament forementioned, the competition used a single, main sponsor. The first major sponsor was Nissan Motors, who signed an 8-year contract with CONMEBOL in 2003.

However, the competition has had many secondary sponsors that invest in the tournament as well. Many of these sponsors are nationally based but have expanded to other nations. Nike supplies the official match ball, as they do for all other CONMEBOL competitions.[25] Embratel, a brand of Telmex, is the only telecommunications sponsor of the tournament.[26] Individual clubs may wear jerseys with advertising, even if such sponsors conflict with those of the Copa Sudamericana.[27]

Prize money

For the 2023 Copa Sudamericana, clubs playing their first stage match at home receive US$225,000, while teams that play their first stage match away receive US$250,000. Clubs qualifying for the group stage are awarded US$900,000, earning US$100,000 per match won in that stage.[28] Those amounts are derived from television rights and stadium advertising.[28] In addition to those amounts, CONMEBOL will pay US$500,000 to the clubs reaching the knockout round play-offs, US$550,000 to those advancing to the round of 16, US$600,000 for reaching the quarter-finals, US$800,000 for reaching the semi-finals, US$2,000,000 to the runners-up and US$5,000,000 to the winners.[28]

Media coverage

Starting from 2019 season, DirecTV (Latin America, exclude Brazil) and DAZN (Brazil) broadcast the Copa and Recopa Sudamericana coverage until 2022 from the previous broadcaster, Fox Sports (Latin America) and the CONMEBOL Libertadores-Sudamericana broadcast package are separate.[29][30] RedeTV! (Brazil) will also broadcast the tournament.[31]

Records and statistics

Claudio Morel Rodríguez has won a record three Copa Sudamericana medals.

Claudio Morel Rodríguez is the only player to have won three Copa Sudamericana winners' medals.[32]

As of the end of the 2014 tournament, LDU Quito and São Paulo have played most games in the tournament (50).[33]

Winners

Performance in the Copa Sudamericana by club
Club Titles Runners-up Seasons won Seasons runner-up
Ecuador LDU Quito212009, 20232011
Argentina Boca Juniors2—2004, 2005
—
Argentina Independiente2—2010, 2017
—
Brazil Athletico Paranaense2—2018, 2021
—
Ecuador Independiente del Valle2—2019, 2022
—
Brazil São Paulo1120122022
Argentina Lanús1120132020
Argentina River Plate1120142003
Argentina San Lorenzo1—2002
—
Peru Cienciano1—2003
—
Mexico Pachuca1—2006
—
Argentina Arsenal1—2007
—
Brazil Internacional1—2008
—
Chile Universidad de Chile1—2011
—
Colombia Santa Fe1—2015
—
Brazil Chapecoense1—2016
—
Argentina Defensa y Justicia1—2020
—
Colombia Atlético Nacional03
—
2002, 2014, 2016
Bolivia Bolívar01
—
2004
Mexico UNAM01
—
2005
Chile Colo-Colo01
—
2006
Mexico América01
—
2007
Argentina Estudiantes01
—
2008
Brazil Fluminense01
—
2009
Brazil Goiás01
—
2010
Argentina Tigre01
—
2012
Brazil Ponte Preta01
—
2013
Argentina Huracán01
—
2015
Brazil Flamengo01
—
2017
Colombia Junior01
—
2018
Argentina Colón01
—
2019
Brazil Red Bull Bragantino01
—
2021
Brazil Fortaleza01
—
2023

Performances by nation

Performances in finals by nation
Nation Titles Runners-up Total
 Argentina9615
 Brazil5712
 Ecuador415
 Colombia145
 Mexico123
 Chile112
 Peru101
 Bolivia011
 Costa Rica000
 Honduras000
 Paraguay000
 United States000
 Uruguay000
 Venezuela000

Source:[34]

References

  1. 1 2 "SOUTH AMERICAN COMPETITIONS". RSSSF. Retrieved 28 March 2010.
  2. 1 2 "Nissan South American Cup". conmebol.com. Retrieved 28 March 2010.
  3. ↑ Historia de la Copa Conmebol en página oficial Conmebol.com
  4. ↑ rsssf.org
  5. ↑ "Terra Brazil". Archived from the original on 2013-09-30. Retrieved 2013-07-07.
  6. ↑ Santander Fútbol
  7. ↑ "Recopa Sudamerica". CONMEBOL. Retrieved 28 March 2010.
  8. ↑ "Copa CONMEBOL". conmebol. Retrieved 28 March 2010.
  9. ↑ "Copa Merconorte". conmebol. Retrieved 28 March 2010.
  10. ↑ "Copa Mercosur". conmebol. Retrieved 28 March 2010.
  11. ↑ "Copa Pan-Americana 2003". RSSSF. Retrieved 28 March 2010.
  12. ↑ Karel Stokkermans (10 December 2015). "Copa Sudamericana 2015". RSSSF. Retrieved 4 July 2016.
  13. ↑ "Conmebol informa detalles adicionales sobre reforma de Copa Libertadores y Copa Sudamericana". CONMEBOL.com. 3 October 2016.
  14. ↑ "Conmebol ratifica calendario anual para Copa Libertadores y Copa Sudamericana". CONMEBOL.com. 3 October 2016.
  15. ↑ "Comunicado de CONMEBOL sobre torneos de clubes". CONMEBOL.com. 27 September 2016.
  16. ↑ ""Invitación por criterio técnico": Boca y River podrían jugar la Copa Libertadores 2017". La Nacion. 27 September 2016. Archived from the original on 22 December 2016. Retrieved 25 January 2019.
  17. 1 2 "La Copa Sudamericana 2017 reunirá a 44 clubes". CONMEBOL.com. 6 December 2016.
  18. ↑ "Se viene una CONMEBOL Sudamericana más competitiva y representativa". CONMEBOL.com. 2 October 2020.
  19. ↑ "CONMEBOL Sudamericana 2021" (PDF). CONMEBOL.com. 2 October 2020.
  20. ↑ "Con cambios en el formato, la CONMEBOL Sudamericana gana aún más competitividad y atractivo" [With changes in the format, the CONMEBOL Sudamericana gains even more competitiveness and attractiveness] (in Spanish). CONMEBOL. 19 December 2022. Retrieved 20 December 2022.
  21. ↑ Agosto abre el noveno capítulo de un torneo que se hace mayor
  22. ↑ "Fiesta por la otra mitad de la gloria" (in Spanish). HOY. Archived from the original on 2011-09-27. Retrieved 2010-08-24.
  23. ↑ "Toda Peru festeja título de Cienciano" (in Spanish). Fútbol Peru. Archived from the original on May 17, 2010. Retrieved August 5, 2010.
  24. ↑ "Historia del Club Pachuca" (in Spanish). Federación Mexicana de Fútbol Asociación. Archived from the original on 2012-03-24. Retrieved August 5, 2010.
  25. ↑ "Nike presentó la nueva pelota para el Torneo" (in Spanish). Info Bae. 13 January 2010. Archived from the original on 7 October 2012. Retrieved 12 January 2010.
  26. ↑ "Image of the 2010 Copa Sudamericana draw with its sponsors clearly represented". Caracas Futbol Club. March 9, 2006. Archived from the original on August 13, 2011. Retrieved May 18, 2010.
  27. ↑ "Reglamento de la Copa Nissan Sudamericana de Clubes 2010" (PDF) (in Spanish). CONMEBOL. April 28, 2010. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 10, 2010. Retrieved May 18, 2010.
  28. 1 2 3 "Estos son los premios que se repartirán en la Copa Sudamericana 2023" [These are the prizes that will be distributed in the 2023 Copa Sudamericana] (in Spanish). Primicias. 9 January 2023. Retrieved 10 January 2023.
  29. ↑ "DAZN TO LAUNCH SPORTS STREAMING SERVICE IN BRAZIL". DAZN Media Centre. 2018-11-29. Archived from the original on 2018-12-03. Retrieved 2018-12-27.
  30. ↑ "DAZN, SporTV and DirecTV secure Copa Libertadores rights". sportspromedia.com. 18 December 2018. Retrieved 2018-12-27.
  31. ↑ "RedeTV! transmite ao vivo Racing x Corinthians às 21h30 desta quarta-feira (27)". RedeTV! (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 2019-02-24.
  32. ↑ "Claudio Morel Rodríguez". Boca Juniors. Archived from the original on 2010-06-25. Retrieved 2010-07-02.
  33. ↑ "Historical table". RSSSF. Retrieved 4 July 2016.
  34. ↑ Karel Stokkermans (23 December 2015). "Copa Sudamericana". RSSSF. Retrieved 25 March 2020.
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