2021 Copa Sudamericana
| Copa CONMEBOL Sudamericana 2021 | |
|---|---|
final. | |
| Tournament details | |
| Dates | 16 March – 20 November 2021 |
| Teams | 44+12 (from 10 associations) |
| Final positions | |
| Champions |  Athletico Paranaense (2nd title) |
| Runners-up | Red Bull Bragantino |
| Tournament statistics | |
| Matches played | 157 |
| Goals scored | 389 (2.48 per match) |
| Top scorer(s) |  Agustín Álvarez Martínez (10 goals) |
The 2021 Copa CONMEBOL Sudamericana was the 20th edition of the CONMEBOL Sudamericana (also referred to as the Copa Sudamericana, or Portuguese: Copa Sul-Americana), South America's secondary club football tournament organized by CONMEBOL.[1]
Starting from this season, teams must be in the top division of their member association to play in South American club competitions,[2] except for teams which are champions of the qualifying tournaments or cups.[3]
On 14 May 2020, CONMEBOL announced the candidate venues for the 2021, 2022 and 2023 club competition finals.
Brazilian club Athletico Paranaense defeated fellow Brazilian club Red Bull Bragantino by a 1–0 score in the final to win their second tournament title.[8] As winners of the 2021 Copa Sudamericana, Athletico Paranaense earned the right to play against the winners of the 2021 Copa Libertadores in the 2022 Recopa Sudamericana. They also automatically qualified for the 2022 Copa Libertadores group stage.
Defensa y Justicia were the defending champions, but did not play this edition since they qualified for the 2021 Copa Libertadores group stage as Copa Sudamericana champions and later advanced to the knockout stage.
Format changes
On 2 October 2020, CONMEBOL's Council approved the implementation of format changes to the Copa Sudamericana starting from this edition, aimed at ensuring that each of the countries is better represented in the different stages of the competition. The following changes were implemented:[9][10]
- The tournament was expanded from 54 to 56 teams, with all four Copa Libertadores third stage losers entering the competition instead of the two best teams eliminated.
- In the first stage, teams from all associations other than Argentina and Brazil played against a team from their same association in double-legged ties with the winners qualifying for a 32-team group stage, ensuring that at least two teams from each association will take part in the group stage.
- A group stage was included, with teams from Argentina and Brazil directly entering the Copa Sudamericana entering the competition at this stage, joining the 16 first stage winners and the four teams eliminated in the Copa Libertadores third stage. The winners of each group qualified for the round of 16.
- The eight third-placed teams of the Copa Libertadores group stage entered the competition at the round of 16.
Teams
The following 44 teams from the 10 CONMEBOL associations qualified for the tournament:[11]
- Argentina and Brazil: 6 berths each
- All other associations: 4 berths each
The entry stage is determined as follows:[9]
- Group stage: 12 teams (teams from Argentina and Brazil)
- First stage: 32 teams (teams from all other associations)
A further 12 teams eliminated from the 2021 Copa Libertadores were transferred to the Copa Sudamericana, entering the group stage (four teams) and the round of 16 (eight teams).
| Teams eliminated in third stage | Entry stage |
|---|---|
 Libertad
|
Group stage |
Grêmio
| |
 Bolívar
| |
 San Lorenzo
| |
| Third-placed teams in group stage | Entry stage |
Independiente del Valle
|
Round of 16 |
 Deportivo Táchira
| |
| Santos
| |
 Junior
| |
 Sporting Cristal
| |
| Nacional
| |
 LDU Quito
| |
| América de Cali
|
- Notes
- Argentina (ARG): On 28 April 2020, the Argentine Football Association announced the abandonment of the 2020 Copa de la Superliga and the culmination of the 2019–20 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Argentina. The six Argentina berths of the 2021 Copa Sudamericana were awarded to the six best teams of the 2019–20 Superliga Argentina and 2020 Copa de la Superliga aggregate table not qualified for the 2021 Copa Libertadores.[14]
- Bolivia (BOL): The 2020 Clausura tournament was not held due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Bolivia, therefore the four Bolivia berths of the 2021 Copa Sudamericana were reallocated to the four best teams of the 2020 Apertura not qualified for the 2021 Copa Libertadores.
- Colombia (COL): On 25 July 2020, DIMAYOR decided that the Colombia 4 berth, which was originally allocated to the 2020 Primera A aggregate table 4th best team not qualified for the 2021 Copa Libertadores, would be awarded to the winners of a play-off tournament between said team and the 12 teams that failed to qualify for the 2020 Primera A knockout stage.[15][16]
- Ecuador (ECU): The 2020 Copa Ecuador was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Ecuador, therefore the Ecuador 4 berth which was originally allocated to the winners of said competition passed over to the 2020 Serie A aggregate table 4th best team not qualified for the 2021 Copa Libertadores.
- Paraguay (PAR): The2020 Copa Paraguay was postponed to 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Paraguay, therefore the Paraguay 4 berth which was originally allocated to the winners of said competition passed over to the 2020 Primera División aggregate table 4th best team not qualified for the 2021 Copa Libertadores.[17]
- Peru (PER): The 2020 Copa Bicentenario was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Peru, therefore the Peru 4 berth which was originally allocated to the winners of said competition passed over to the 2020 Liga 1 aggregate table 4th best team not qualified for the 2021 Copa Libertadores.[18]
- Venezuela (VEN): On 15 May 2020, the Venezuelan Football Federation decided the permanent suspension of the 2020 Venezuelan Primera División season and the voiding of the standings and results recorded due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Venezuela.[19][20] The allocation of the four Venezuela berths of the 2021 Copa Sudamericana would be announced at a later time, with the FVF confirming a will to organize a new tournament in which sporting merit, club licensing requirements, and medical protocols were applied.[21] The definitive berth allocations were confirmed by the FVF on 18 September 2020.[22]
Schedule
The schedule of the competition will be as follows:[9][23]
| Stage | Draw date | First leg | Second leg |
|---|---|---|---|
| First stage | 5 February 2021[24] | 16–18 March 2021 6–7 April 2021 |
6–8 April 2021 13–14 April 2021 |
| Group stage | 9 April 2021[25] |
| |
| Round of 16 | 1 June 2021[26] | 13–15 July 2021 | 20–22 July 2021 |
| Quarter-finals | 10–12 August 2021 | 17–19 August 2021 | |
| Semi-finals | 22–23 September 2021 | 29–30 September 2021 | |
| Final | 20 November 2021 at Estadio Centenario, Montevideo | ||
Draws
12 de Octubre
Libertad (L)
Nacional
River PlateMontevideo teams
Fénix
Montevideo City Torque
Nacional (L) PeñarolRosario teams
Newell's Old Boys Rosario CentralGran Buenos Aires teams
Arsenal Independiente
Lanús San Lorenzo (L) Brown: Group A; Red: Group B; Orange: Group C;
Yellow: Group D; Green: Group E; Blue: Group F;
Purple: Group G; Pink: Group H; White: First stage; Turquoise: Round of 16 entrants.(L) Teams transferred from the 2021 Copa Libertadores
