Barranquilla will host a final shaped by two very different semi-final journeys: Boca Juniors overturned a deficit in Rio de Janeiro, while Atlético Mineiro survived a tense night in Montevideo. The Argentine and Brazilian clubs will meet for the 2026 Copa Sudamericana on Saturday, 21 November, at Colombia’s Estadio Metropolitano Roberto Meléndez.
The news from the club
Boca reached the showpiece after recovering from a 1-0 first-leg defeat to Vasco da Gama at La Bombonera. At the Maracanã, Leandro Paredes provided the decisive moment late in the return match.
The Argentina captain, a World Cup winner with his country, had accelerated his return from a muscle tear to make himself available. Introduced in the 57th minute, Paredes scored in the 88th to send Boca into the final.
The Buenos Aires club now have the chance to end an 18-year wait for an international trophy. Boca won the Copa Sudamericana in 2004 and 2005; a victory in Barranquilla would bring a third title and make them the competition’s first three-time champions.
Atlético Mineiro’s route was more uneasy than their first-leg advantage suggested. Eduardo Domínguez’s side travelled to Montevideo’s Estadio Centenario holding a 3-0 lead over Montevideo City Torque, then lost the second leg 2-0 while progressing 3-2 on aggregate.
The closing stages became particularly fraught after Alan Franco was dismissed in the 76th minute. With Atlético reduced to ten men, the Uruguayan side pressed hard for the goal that would have changed the tie.
For Mineiro, the final offers another opportunity to add continental silverware after defeat to Botafogo in the 2024 Copa Libertadores final and a previous Copa Sudamericana final loss to Lanús.
Final in Barranquilla
| Match | Date | Venue | City | Kick-off |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boca Juniors v Atlético Mineiro | Saturday, 21 November 2026 | Estadio Metropolitano Roberto Meléndez | Barranquilla, Colombia | To be confirmed |
The one-off final places Argentine and Brazilian football on opposite sides of the same November night on Colombia’s Caribbean coast. Boca are pursuing a landmark third Sudamericana crown; Atlético arrive determined to turn survival in Montevideo into a continental triumph.
