CONMEBOL Libertadores

Copa Libertadores 2026: Flamengo, Palmeiras and Fluminense in the semi-finals

The Copa Libertadores is South America's premier club competition, organised by CONMEBOL. After the qualifying rounds, 32 clubs play a group stage of eight groups of four; the top two in each group go through to the round of 16 and the third-placed sides drop into the Copa Sudamericana. The knockout rounds up to the semi-finals are played over two legs, and the title is decided in a one-off final.

Three of the four semi-finalists are Brazilian. Flamengo were the most convincing side in the group stage, with five wins, a draw and only two goals conceded, and they beat Independiente del Valle 3-1 on aggregate in the quarter-finals. Palmeiras got past LDU Quito on penalties after a 3-3 aggregate draw, and Fluminense beat Platense 3-2. Estudiantes de La Plata, the only non-Brazilian side left, knocked out Corinthians 2-1.

The semi-finals are Fluminense against Palmeiras and Estudiantes against Flamengo, with the first legs this week and the return legs a week later. Alex Arce of Independiente Rivadavia is the competition's top scorer with nine goals; Flamengo's Bruno Henrique has five.