Copa Mercosur

A short-lived South American club competition (1998–2001) won by Brazilian and Argentine giants.

The Copa Mercosur was a football competition played from 1998 to 2001 by traditional top clubs from Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, Uruguay, and Chile. It was created by CONMEBOL to generate TV money and, together with the Copa Merconorte, served as a natural replacement for the Supercopa Libertadores.

Quick Facts

Organiser

CONMEBOL

Founded

1998

Abolished

2001

Region

South America

Number of teams

Most successful club

BRA Palmeiras
BRA Flamengo
BRA Vasco
ARG San Lorenzo (1 title each)

Broadcasters

PSN

Lore & Background

Three of the four editions were won by Brazilian clubs, and one by an Argentine club. No team won two editions. Palmeiras, Flamengo, Vasco da Gama (all from Brazil), and San Lorenzo (from Argentina) each won one title. The competition was discontinued after 2001. A planned replacement, the Copa Pan-Americana, was postponed and eventually cancelled. The Copa Sudamericana, first held in 2002, became the successor.

Reader's Guide

Twenty teams participated by invitation, not sporting merit. They were divided into five groups of four, playing two-legged matches. The group winners and the three best runners-up advanced to the quarterfinals. Quarterfinals and semifinals were two-legged. The finals were three-legged in 1998 and 2000, and two-legged in 1999 and 2001.

Did You Know?

Flamengo won the 1999 Copa Mercosur under head coach Vanderlei Luxemburgo.
Three Brazilian clubs—Vasco da Gama (1998), Flamengo (1999), and Palmeiras (2000)—won the tournament.
The Copa Sudamericana, which succeeded the Copa Mercosur, began in 2002.