Copa Libertadores 2026 Semi-Finals: Fixtures, Dates, TV and the Road to the Montevideo Final
Latin America · Football
Key Facts
—Fixtures Fluminense host Palmeiras on 14 October and visit São Paulo on 21 October; Estudiantes host Flamengo on 15 October and visit Rio on 22 October.
—Kickoff All four semi-final matches start at 21:30 Brasília time, which is the same as Buenos Aires time.
—Final The single-match final is on 28 November 2026 at Estadio Centenario in Montevideo.
—Broadcast Globo, ge tv and Paramount+ are reported for Fluminense–Palmeiras; ESPN is reported for Estudiantes–Flamengo.
—Prize money Each semi-finalist has secured US$2.3 million, a final place adds US$7 million, and the champion gets US$25 million.
—Brazilian finalist The all-Brazilian tie guarantees one Brazilian club in the final; the other finalist comes from Estudiantes–Flamengo.
The 2026 Copa Libertadores semi-finals are locked in: Fluminense face Palmeiras across Rio and São Paulo, while Estudiantes de La Plata meet Flamengo, with every match kicking off at 21:30 Brasília time and the decider set for Montevideo on 28 November.
At a Glance: Confirmed semi-final schedule
Fluminense vs Palmeiras — 14 October, 21:30 Brasília time, Maracanã, Rio de Janeiro.
Estudiantes vs Flamengo — 15 October, 21:30, Estadio UNO, La Plata.
Palmeiras vs Fluminense — 21 October, 21:30, Nubank Parque, São Paulo.
Flamengo vs Estudiantes — 22 October, 21:30, Maracanã, Rio de Janeiro.
The final takes place on 28 November at Estadio Centenario, Montevideo, as a single match.
The two ties and how each team got here
Fluminense reached the semi-finals by eliminating Platense 3–2 on aggregate. The Rio side now carry the weight of the Maracanã, a stadium that turns big South American nights into rituals of noise, flags and nervous energy.
Palmeiras needed penalties to get past LDU Quito after the tie finished level. That survival instinct matters now because São Paulo club football lives on fine margins and cold calculation.
Flamengo beat Independiente del Valle 3–1 on aggregate, showing the attacking depth that makes them feared across the continent. Their semi-final begins away in Argentina, where Estudiantes promise a hostile, old-school reception.
Estudiantes eliminated Corinthians with a 1–0 win in São Paulo after a 1–1 draw in La Plata. The Argentine club, from a city built around its university and its football identity, arrives with the calm of a team that has already proven it can win ugly away from home.
The road to Montevideo
The final is no longer a two-legged affair. On 28 November, Estadio Centenario in Montevideo will host one match that decides the champion.
That change removes the home-and-away safety net. One venue, one crowd and one night now carry the entire weight of the continent’s biggest club prize.
For foreign fans, Montevideo offers a compact, walkable final experience. The Centenario sits in a city where football feels woven into daily life, but demand for hotels and flights will spike quickly.
Because Fluminense–Palmeiras is all-Brazilian, a Brazilian finalist is already guaranteed. The other finalist must come from Estudiantes–Flamengo, which keeps the international identity of the final alive.
The money at stake
Each semi-finalist has already secured US$2.3 million, according to ge Globo. Reaching the final adds another US$7 million.
The champion receives US$25 million. Those figures mean every tackle, penalty and away goal in the semi-finals carries financial consequences beyond sporting pride.
For Brazilian and Argentine clubs, the prize money is also a chance to strengthen squads, reduce debt and signal ambition to international investors. The Libertadores is not only a trophy; it is a business event with a deeply emotional surface.
How to watch
Globo, ge tv and Paramount+ are reported as the broadcasters for both Fluminense–Palmeiras matches. ESPN is reported for Estudiantes–Flamengo, according to fixture information and Brazilian media.
CONMEBOL’s official fixture document lists the rights details, including ESPN/Disney+ and Globo/GE TV. Foreign viewers should check local listings because streaming availability varies by country.
Match times are the same across Brazil and Argentina: 21:30 local time. That makes planning easier for travellers moving between Rio, São Paulo and La Plata.
What to watch for
Fluminense–Palmeiras is a clash of styles: Rio flair against São Paulo organisation. The first leg at the Maracanã will test whether Fluminense can impose their rhythm before the return at Nubank Parque.
Estudiantes–Flamengo carries a different temperature. Argentine sides often try to slow the game, disrupt passing lanes and turn the crowd into a weapon; Flamengo will need patience and precision.
Key storylines include Palmeiras’ penalty resilience, Flamengo’s attacking depth, Fluminense’s emotional home support and Estudiantes’ defensive discipline. The semi-finals may be decided less by brilliance than by who manages nerves better.
Because the final is a single match, every semi-final decision carries extra weight. A suspension, an away goal or a late injury can reshape the entire path to Montevideo.
What We Could Not Confirm
Exact ticket sale dates and official away-fan allocations for all four semi-final matches were not fully confirmed in the sources reviewed. Travellers should monitor each club’s official channels for purchase windows.
Potential squad absences, injuries or suspensions were not included in the verified material. Matchday squads and disciplinary updates are expected closer to kickoff.
The psychogram of a continent
The Libertadores semi-finals are never only about football. They carry the economic anxiety, regional pride and historical memory of South America into ninety-minute bursts of collective emotion.
In Rio, football is a release valve for a city that lives outdoors and performs its identity daily. In São Paulo, it is a more corporate but equally obsessive pursuit of control and titles.
La Plata adds a different note: a smaller, proud Argentine city that sees these nights as proof of belonging on the continental stage. The single-match Montevideo final intensifies everything because there is no second chance.
For foreign readers, this is the pleasure and tension of the Libertadores: it is sport as social biography, where finances, fans and history collide in real time.
Frequently Asked Questions
When are the 2026 Copa Libertadores semi-finals?
Fluminense host Palmeiras on 14 October and Estudiantes host Flamengo on 15 October. The return legs are on 21 October in São Paulo and 22 October in Rio de Janeiro, all at 21:30 Brasília time.
Where is the 2026 Copa Libertadores final?
The final is a single match at Estadio Centenario in Montevideo on 28 November 2026. There is no second leg.
How can I watch the semi-finals?
Globo, ge tv and Paramount+ are reported for Fluminense–Palmeiras. ESPN is reported for Estudiantes–Flamengo. Check local streaming options because rights differ by country.
How much prize money is at stake?
Each semi-finalist has secured US$2.3 million. Reaching the final adds US$7 million, and the champion receives US$25 million.
Why does one tie guarantee a Brazilian finalist?
Fluminense and Palmeiras are both Brazilian clubs. Because they play each other in one semi-final, one of them must advance to the final regardless of the other tie.
Sources: CONMEBOL: Dates confirmed for the semi-finals, CONMEBOL: 2026 Libertadores final will be played in Montevideo, ge Globo: Semi-final dates, times, broadcast and prize money
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