10 Key Sports Developments in Latin America (January 25, 2026)

Sunday delivered trophies, clinchers, and late twists across the region. Cruzeiro beat São Paulo 2–1 to win Copinha at Pacaembu, while Charros de Jalisco took a 3–0 lead in Mexico’s LMP final with an 8–6 win over Tomateros.

In the Dominican Republic, Toros del Este finally broke through in the LIDOM final with a 3–2 win over Escogido. Venezuela closed its round robin with Magallanes sealing a finals berth and Cardenales beating Águilas, while Mexico’s national team won 1–0 in Bolivia.

Argentina lifted the Sur-Centro handball title in the last seconds against Brazil, and Brazil’s Carioca delivered a Fla-Flu swing plus a Vasco win. Argentina’s top flight also opened with wins for Boca, Argentinos, and Tigre.

Here are 10 key developments from that day:

1. Cruzeiro beat São Paulo 2–1 to win Copinha

Key facts: Cruzeiro won the final at Pacaembu and claimed their second Copa São Paulo de Futebol Júnior title. William opened the scoring with a header from a set piece, and São Paulo equalized before halftime through Isac after another corner sequence.

The winner came from a long-range strike that hit the post and then deflected in off goalkeeper João Pedro, and a late São Paulo penalty was later cancelled by VAR.

Why picked: It was Brazil’s biggest youth title night, and it ended with a decisive moment plus a VAR flashpoint.

2. LMP Final: Charros beat Tomateros 8–6 and moved one win from the title

Key facts: Charros won again in Guadalajara, taking an 8–6 victory over Tomateros to extend their series lead to 3–0. The game stayed high-scoring, with Tomateros repeatedly threatening to pull it back into one swing.

Charros’ ability to answer runs and still close without panic put them within one win of the championship and the host-city spotlight in Guadalajara next week.

Why picked: A 3–0 lead in a winter-ball final is close to a structural advantage, especially with bullpen fatigue looming.

3. LIDOM Final: Toros del Este beat Escogido 3–2 and got their first win of the series

Key facts: Toros came from behind and won 3–2, finally putting a mark on the scoreboard after falling behind in the series. A solo homer by Bryan de la Cruz kept Toros close, and the game stayed tight into the late innings.

Toros tied it with a Rudy Martin RBI double in the ninth, then won it when a bases-loaded walk forced in the deciding run.

Why picked: It was a classic “one pitch changes everything” finish that resets the Dominican final’s pressure.

4. LVBP: Magallanes beat Bravos 3–2 and sealed a finals berth

Key facts: Magallanes came from behind to beat Bravos 3–2 and lock qualification to the LVBP final. The tying and go-ahead runs arrived in the seventh, sparked by a Carlos Sepúlveda RBI single and a Rougned Odor bases-loaded walk.

The win ended the round robin with Magallanes through and immediately shifted the league into finals planning mode.

Why picked: It decided a championship matchup in Venezuela, and it did it via a late comeback.

5. LVBP: Cardenales beat Águilas 3–1 in Maracaibo, but still finished eliminated

Key facts: Cardenales scored three runs in the first inning and then relied on César Valdez and the bullpen to protect the margin in a 3–1 win over Águilas.

Águilas managed only one run, and Cardenales’ relief work closed the final innings without giving away extra chances. The victory ended Lara’s round robin on a win, but Magallanes’ result elsewhere meant Lara still missed the final.

Why picked: It was a clean, professional win on the last day, paired with the harsh reality of scoreboard dependence.

6. Mexico beat Bolivia 1–0 in Santa Cruz in a non-FIFA-window friendly

Key facts: Mexico won 1–0 in Santa Cruz, Bolivia, in a match played outside the official FIFA window, which shaped squad availability and match rhythm.

Germán Berterame scored the only goal after a goalkeeper error, and Mexico leaned on key saves and a few tense moments to protect the lead.

The win was framed as part of a preparation tour designed to face different environments than the usual U.S.-based friendlies.

Why picked: It was Mexico’s clearest senior national-team result of the day, and it carried World Cup-year selection implications.

7. Argentina beat Brazil 26–25 at the buzzer to win the Sur-Centro handball title

Key facts: Argentina won 26–25 against Brazil in Asunción, Paraguay, with a goal from Federico Giménez in the final seconds.

Brazil had led early, but Argentina recovered to go into halftime ahead and then survived a dramatic finish where the title moment flipped in the last minute.

Both teams were already qualified for the 2027 World Championship, so the match was purely for the regional crown and bragging rights.

Why picked: A last-second win over Brazil is the strongest possible statement in South American handball.

8. Campeonato Carioca: Fluminense beat Flamengo 2–1 at the Maracanã

Key facts: Fluminense beat Flamengo 2–1 in the state championship, with Kevin Serna and John Kennedy scoring before Flamengo replied through Everton.

The match was played at the Maracanã and immediately sharpened early-season pressure on Flamengo’s inconsistent start. For Fluminense, it was a classic identity win: intensity, second balls, and enough finishing to make control count.

Why picked: Fla-Flu is never “just a state-league game,” and this one landed with real momentum value.

9. Campeonato Carioca: Vasco beat Boavista 3–0 with a J. Rodríguez brace

Key facts: Vasco won 3–0 away to Boavista, with J. Rodríguez scoring twice and A. Gomez adding a third.

The scoring pattern mattered because it turned a potentially awkward trip into a controlled points grab, not a late scramble. In state championships, early wins like this are often what buy calm while squads are still being built.

Why picked: It was the clearest big-club, three-goal statement in Rio’s weekend slate.

10. Argentina Liga Profesional: Boca, Argentinos, and Tigre all won on opening Sunday

Key facts: Boca beat Deportivo Riestra 1–0 at La Bombonera, with the winner scored in the second half. Argentinos Juniors beat Sarmiento 1–0 with a stoppage-time goal, after Sarmiento had a player sent off earlier in the match. Tigre won 2–0 over Estudiantes de Río Cuarto, scoring twice in the second half to open the campaign cleanly.

Why picked: Season openers set narrative fast in Argentina, and three wins by recognizable brands shaped the first weekend table.

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