Conmebol adjusts Libertadores and Sudamericana calendar to accommodate the 2027 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
The South American Football Confederation (Conmebol) has announced the calendar for its main club competitions in 2027, which will include a significant break. This measure is in response to the FIFA Women’s World Cup, which will be held in Brazil. Both the Copa Libertadores and the Copa Sudamericana will have their schedules adjusted, concentrating matches before and after the global tournament.
The club season in South America will kick off as early as February. The grand final of the Libertadores is scheduled for November 27, 2027, while the Sudamericana decider will take place a week earlier, on November 20. These dates, however, may still undergo changes by the governing body of South American football. The Recopa Sudamericana, which pits the 2026 continental champions against each other, will open the season in February, with the first leg on February 17 and the second leg on February 24.
Libertadores Concentrates Decisive Rounds in the Second Half
The 2027 Copa Libertadores de América will begin in February, with preliminary rounds taking place on February 3, 10, and 17, followed by the third stage on March 3 and 10. The group stage draw is scheduled for March 17, with the group matches taking place between April 7 and May 26. After the break for the Women’s World Cup, the knockout stage will commence. The Round of 16 will be held on August 11 and 18, followed by the quarterfinals on September 8 and 15. The semifinals will take place in October on the 13th and 20th, culminating in the grand final in November. The selection of the Libertadores final venue remains open, with cities such as Brasília, La Plata (Argentina), and Asunción (Paraguay) being considered.
Sudamericana Follows a Similar Path with Adaptations
The Copa Sudamericana will kick off in March, with the first phase on the 3rd and 10th. The group stage draw, with dates similar to the Libertadores (April 7 to May 26), will occur on March 17. After the Women’s World Cup window, the playoffs are scheduled for July 21 and 28, before the Round of 16 on August 11 and 18. The quarterfinals will follow on September 8 and 15, and the semifinals on October 13 and 20. The final of the competition will be held in Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia, on November 20.
The hosting of the Women’s World Cup in Brazil, which will bring together 32 teams in eight cities, will require the availability of stadiums that usually host club matches. The CBF will face the challenge of coordinating national and state calendars with the break imposed by the international tournament. In addition to this main interruption, the continental calendar takes into account the FIFA windows, with four periods reserved for national teams throughout the year: March, June, September, and November. This new calendar structure will demand strategic planning from Brazilian clubs to optimize performance before and after the break for the Women’s World Cup.
M360 Team
