The Copa Libertadores 2026 group stage draw was conducted on Thursday evening, March 19, 2026, in Luque, Paraguay, and Boca Juniors received the most challenging draw, landing in Group D, which was immediately dubbed the “group of death.”
The Draw in Luque
Legends Felipe Melo and Oscar Ruggeri pulled the bolillas for the 32-team field, which was divided into eight groups. The top two teams from each group will advance to the knockout rounds, while third-placed sides will drop into the Sudamericana playoffs. The final will be held at the Centenario in Montevideo, with a record winner’s prize of $25 million.
Defending champions Flamengo were placed in Group A alongside Estudiantes de La Plata, Independiente Medellin, and Cusco FC. Boca Juniors landed in Group D and will face two-time champions Cruzeiro, Chile’s Universidad Catolica, and Barcelona SC of Ecuador. Last year's runners-up, Palmeiras, drew Group F with Cerro Porteno, Junior de Barranquilla, and Sporting Cristal. Peñarol and Corinthians headline Group E, while Fluminense will face Bolivar in Group C.
What Boca Faces
The group stage is scheduled to begin in the first week of April. Boca Juniors have not lifted the trophy since 2007, marking their longest drought in the modern era.
Argentina has six representatives in the tournament: Boca, Estudiantes, Lanus, Rosario Central, Platense, and Independiente Rivadavia. Brazil has seven: Flamengo, Palmeiras, Fluminense, Corinthians, Cruzeiro, Mirassol, and the Sudamericana-qualified Barcelona SC entrant.
The article identifies Boca Juniors’ group as the toughest in the draw and notes the club’s long title drought. It also sets out the tournament structure, with the top two teams advancing and third-placed sides moving into the Sudamericana playoffs.
The final will be held at the Centenario in Montevideo, and the winner’s prize is set at $25 million. The group stage begins in the first week of April.