Estudiantes confirms UNO Stadium for semifinal clash against Flamengo in Libertadores, ending venue uncertainty.
Estudiantes (ARG) has ended days of uncertainty by confirming that the Estadio Jorge Luis Hirschi, popularly known as UNO, in La Plata, will be the venue for the first leg of the Libertadores semifinal against Flamengo. The decision, eagerly awaited by fans and clubs, validates the Argentine team’s desire to play at home.
The match is scheduled for October 15 at 9:30 PM (Brasília time). The confirmation ends a period of negotiations between the La Plata club and Conmebol, which involved specific criteria from the competition’s regulations for games at this stage.
The main point of discussion revolved around the stadium’s capacity and the accommodation of visiting fans. Despite the regulatory challenges, Estudiantes’ persistence in hosting the encounter at their own ground prevailed, promising a vibrant atmosphere for the start of the race for a spot in the grand final.
Official Statement and Conmebol’s Requirements
Club Estudiantes de La Plata announced the decision through an official statement, also shared on its social media, such as X (formerly Twitter). The message was clear:
Club Estudiantes de La Plata confirms that the match against Clube de Regatas do Flamengo on October 15, for the Conmebol Libertadores, will be held at the UNO Stadium. See you at home.
The venue definition occurred amidst an impasse with the Conmebol Club Manual, which, starting from the semifinal stage, requires stadiums with a minimum capacity of 30,000 spectators and at least 4,000 seats for visiting fans. Although the UNO Stadium accommodates around 32,000 fans, the sector designated for opponents traditionally has only 2,000 seats.
Negotiations and the Challenge of Flamengo’s Tickets
To resolve the capacity issue for the Flamengo supporters, Estudiantes had to negotiate directly with the highest authority in South American football. The Argentine management even discussed adapting other areas of UNO and proposed reciprocity in ticket allocation, limiting Estudiantes fans to 2,000 seats at the Maracanã if Flamengo accepted the same condition in La Plata.
Flamengo, in turn, maintained its stance of demanding the 4,000 seats provided for in the regulations. Before the confirmation, Juan Sebastián Verón, president of Estudiantes, had expressed the club’s priority to play at home:
We will do everything possible to play at UNO. Obviously, it will depend a lot on Flamengo. We have to study the situation and do everything we can to make it happen, and if not, we will look for another venue.
Despite the venue confirmation, the number of tickets allocated to Flamengo fans has not yet been officially released, remaining a point of attention in the coming days. Information gathered by the M360 Team indicated that Estudiantes was considering ceding space from its own fans to accommodate visitors.
Semifinal Scenario and History of Clashes
With the first leg venue confirmed, the return match is set for October 22, also at 9:30 PM (Brasília time), at the Maracanã. In the other Libertadores semifinal, Fluminense and Palmeiras will compete for a spot in the final on October 14 and 21.
Flamengo, the current Libertadores champion, secured its spot by eliminating Independiente del Valle (ECU) in the quarterfinals. Estudiantes secured its place by overcoming Corinthians in a thrilling contest. This matchup rehashes not only a group stage clash from this edition, where Flamengo finished first, but also the 2025 quarterfinals. On that occasion, Flamengo advanced on penalties after winning at the Maracanã and losing at UNO, with notable performances from goalkeeper Rossi, a former player for Estudiantes itself.
The confirmation of UNO is a crucial point for the planning of travel for Flamengo fans and for the clubs’ expectations. Now, the focus shifts to the logistical definition of tickets for visiting fans, while the football world awaits the start of another electrifying Libertadores semifinal, which promises memorable encounters in the pursuit of continental glory.
