The 64th edition of South America’s premier club competition kicked off with the initial qualifying rounds, kicking into gear from the opening matches. The Copa Libertadores remains the continent’s most prestigious club tournament, and each year the region’s top sides chase glory with Flamengo holding the defending title as the competition entered 2023. Fans and analysts alike anticipated further memorable chapters in the tournament’s storied history as the new edition unfolded.
Which teams qualified for the 2023 Copa Libertadores? The tournament begins with 47 participating clubs, combining the champions of South America with other top finishers from across the continent.
WHEN DID THE 2023 LIBERTADORES CUP START?
The continental event launched on February 7, with the first three rounds scheduled to run from that date through March 16, marking the start of the competitive journey for teams across the region.
LOTTERY
On Monday, March 27, the draw defined how groups would be formed for the tournament. The group stage commenced on April 4 and concluded in the week of June 29, with groups assembled according to CONMEBOL’s ranking from 2022.
CLASSIFIED TEAMS
CONMEBOL
CONTINENTAL CHAMPIONS
ARGENTINA
BOLIVIA
*Will contest stage 2** Will play stage 1
BRAZIL
*They are playing Phase 2
CHILE
*They are playing Phase 2
COLOMBIA
*They are playing Phase 2
ECUADOR
* Will play phase 2** Will play stage 1
PARAGUAY
*Will contest stage 2** Will play stage 1
PERU
* Will play phase 2** Will play stage 1
URUGUAY
* Will play phase 2** Will play stage 1
VENEZUELA
* Will play phase 2** Will play stage 1
To determine the order in a playoff, the schedule follows a clear, mirrored structure across the regions involved.
DISPUTES FORM
The Copa Libertadores continues to use the format in place since it became an annual event in 2017. Three direct elimination rounds precede the group stage, with 19 teams entering those rounds and four clubs earning direct group-stage berths to join the rest. The group stage features eight groups of four, with the top two advancing to the Round of 16 and the third-placed team dropping into the 2023 Copa Sudamericana. The knockout rounds run as home-and-away ties from the Round of 16 through to the semi-finals, and the final has been staged as a single match at a neutral venue since 2019.
SCHEDULE AND LUMINAIRES
CONMEBOL published the full 2023 calendar, outlining every phase and match window for the season, ensuring teams and fans could track the drama as it unfolded.
PRELIMINARY PHASES
Phase 1
Phase 2
- Participating teams will play the first leg at home when drawn, with winners advancing to the Sudamericana rounds.
- Local country time governs kickoff times.
Phase 3
- Losers from the early rounds qualify for the Copa Sudamericana 2023 group stage.
GROUP PHASE
The group phase kicks off on April 5. By the final date in the week of June 28, teams across the eight groups will have determined advancement and standings.
EIGHTH FINAL
The draw for the Round of 16 set the crossovers, with matches scheduled through early July. The top clubs clash again in the weeks of July 19 and 26 to determine the quarterfinals positions.
QUARTERFINALS
The eight remaining sides will contest ties in the weeks of August 23 and 30, moving toward the semifinals and final.
SEMI-FINALS
The road to the final continues through late September and early October, with two-legged ties determining the teams advancing.
SINGLE FINAL
For the fifth consecutive year, the final is decided in a single match at a neutral venue chosen by the organizing body. The decisive game took place on Saturday, November 11, marking the climactic end of the continental competition.
TELEVISION
VAR
As in prior editions, CONMEBOL deployed the video assistant referee system from the Round of 16 onward in 2023, continuing the practice introduced in 2017.
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