Copa Sudamericana
The other half of glory.
The Copa Sudamericana, also known as the CONMEBOL Sudamericana, is an annual international club football competition organized by CONMEBOL since 2002. It is the second-most prestigious club competition in South American football. The winner becomes eligible to play in the Recopa Sudamericana, gains entry to the next edition of the Copa Libertadores, and contests the UEFA–CONMEBOL Club Challenge. The reigning champion is Argentine club Lanús.
- Trophies Won
- 4
- First Title
- Not specified in source for Boca (Source mentions first win against Grêmio)
- Final Opponent (2004)
- São Paulo FC
- Key Figure (2004 Final)
- Not specified in source (Source mentions Telê Santana's São Paulo as previous de
- Status
- Active Competition
Verified Timeline
Lore & Background
The competition began in 2002, replacing the Copa Merconorte and Copa Mercosur (which had replaced the Copa CONMEBOL). It is considered a merger of those defunct tournaments. Argentine clubs have accumulated the most victories with ten, and eight Argentine clubs have won. Boca Juniors, Independiente, Lanús, Athletico Paranaense, Independiente del Valle, and LDU Quito are the most successful clubs with two titles each. Boca Juniors is the only club to achieve back-to-back victories, in 2004 and 2005.
In Their Own Story
One of the most defining moments for Boca Juniors occurred during their bid to become the first three-time winner. Facing São Paulo, a fellow two-time champion, in a battle for supremacy, the match was decided by points rather than aggregate goals due to the specific format rules of that era. The Xeneize secured a decisive 4–1 victory on points, silencing doubts and cementing their legacy as back-to-back champions. This triumph followed their earlier success against Grêmio, where they had overcome a 4–1 deficit in a previous final to retain the trophy. In another landmark year, Boca reached the summit once more in 2008, lifting their fourth title in what was described as a last hurrah on the international scene for that specific squad's dominance.
Reader's Guide
The tournament is a pure elimination tournament with varying numbers of rounds and teams. Until 2016 it comprised 47 teams in a knockout format. From 2017, it expanded to 54 teams, with teams eliminated from the Copa Libertadores entering the second stage. From 2021, a group stage was introduced. The trophy is also called the Copa Sudamericana or la Sudamericana. The promotional phrase 'La Otra Mitad de La Gloria' is used in the context of winning or attempting to win the cup.
Did You Know?
- Claudio Morel Rodríguez is the only player to have won three Copa Sudamericana winners' medals.
- As of the end of the 2014 tournament, LDU Quito and São Paulo had played the most games in the tournament (50).
- The competition was sponsored by Nissan Motors from 2003 under an 8-year contract.
- The official match ball from 2024 is the Puma Cumbre, ending CONMEBOL's 20-year tenure with Nike.
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