Copa Sudamericana Final in Barranquilla on 21 November
COLOMBIA · EXPATS & NOMADS
Key Facts
- —What it is The Copa Sudamericana final, South America’s answer to Europe’s Europa League, is on Saturday 21 November 2026.
- —The stadium Barranquilla’s Estadio Metropolitano Roberto Meléndez, being rebuilt to seat about 60,000 fans, hosts the one-match final.
- —Who could play Boca Juniors, Vasco da Gama, Atlético Mineiro and Montevideo City Torque play semi-finals that end on Wednesday 21 October.
- —How to get tickets Only through CONMEBOL’s official sales platform, and fans can register interest now on its final page.
- —What tickets may cost Prices are not out yet, but last year’s final in Asunción, Paraguay, charged US$90 to US$200.
- —For US visitors No visa is needed for stays up to 90 days, and nonstop flights link Barranquilla with Miami and Fort Lauderdale.
- —The catch Kick-off time, sale date and finalists are still unannounced, and the US rates Colombia Level 3: Reconsider Travel.
The Copa Sudamericana final comes to Barranquilla, on Colombia’s Caribbean coast, on Saturday 21 November 2026. For US fans, it is a continental final a short nonstop flight from Florida, played on New York time.
CONMEBOL, the body that runs South American football, has confirmed the stadium and the date. The kick-off time, ticket prices and the two finalists are still to be announced.
What the Copa Sudamericana Final Is and Why It Matters
The Copa Sudamericana is South America’s second club competition, played every year by teams from across the continent. It sits below the Copa Libertadores, much as Europe’s Europa League sits below the Champions League.
The trophy is decided in a single match at a venue chosen in advance. Spanish news agency EFE reports this will be the first such final staged in Barranquilla.
Four clubs are still in the race. Argentina’s Boca Juniors face Brazil’s Vasco da Gama, while Brazil’s Atlético Mineiro meet Montevideo City Torque from Uruguay.
The first legs are on Tuesday 13 October in Buenos Aires and Wednesday 14 October in Belo Horizonte. The return legs follow on Tuesday 20 October in Brazil and Wednesday 21 October in Montevideo.
Many in Barranquilla hope Boca Juniors get through, Colombian radio network La FM reported, because the club’s fans travel in large numbers. Atlético Mineiro reached last year’s final, which Argentina’s Lanús won in Asunción, Paraguay.
The semi-final schedule was set out in the Latin America Sports Daily for Monday, 5 October. Two Brazilian finalists would bring fewer travelling fans, La FM reported, though locals are expected to fill the seats.
The Stadium and How to Get There
The Copa Sudamericana final will be played at the Estadio Metropolitano Roberto Meléndez, home of local club Junior and the national team. It stands in the south of the city, on the edge of the neighbouring municipality of Soledad.
The ground sits where Avenida Murillo crosses Avenida Circunvalar, two of Barranquilla’s main roads. Builders moved in during January 2026 to remove the running track and bring the stands closer to the pitch.
Mayor Alejandro Char says the rebuilt stadium will seat about 60,000 football fans. Colombian outlets put the old capacity at about 46,000 and the investment at more than US$45 million.
CONMEBOL inspectors reviewed the works again in August and said they were on schedule. La FM reported in September that the main works should finish around mid-October.
Transmetro, the city’s rapid bus network, runs a line along Avenida Murillo, the road that passes the stadium. Most foreign visitors will find a booked car or a ride app simpler.
Ernesto Cortissoz International Airport, code BAQ, lies in Soledad, about 12 kilometres (7 miles) from downtown Barranquilla. After an inspection on Saturday 3 October, Mayor Char called the international arrivals area chaotic and unfinished.
Char, whose city has just been handed the job of modernising the terminal, promised to finish arrivals soon. Allow extra time on arrival all the same.
CONMEBOL says the final will come with an official Fiesta Sudamericana, a fan festival outside the stadium. In April its team inspected the Gran Malecón, the city’s riverfront promenade, as a possible site.
Flights and Entry Rules for US Visitors
Barranquilla’s airport has nonstop flights to Miami and Fort Lauderdale, El Tiempo reported in July. Avianca began a daily Fort Lauderdale service on Wednesday 15 July 2026.
JetBlue added its own daily Fort Lauderdale flight on Thursday 1 October, the airline announced. Its morning flight leaves Florida at 11:05 and lands in Barranquilla at 12:55 local time.
Colombia’s trade minister has also announced a nonstop route to New York. The airline, start date and New York airport have not been disclosed.
US citizens need a valid passport but no visa for tourist stays of up to 90 days, the State Department says. It advises completing Colombia’s free online Check-Mig form between 72 hours and one hour before your flight.
Colombia may refuse entry to visitors without a return ticket, so carry proof of your return flight. Cash above US$10,000 must be declared on arrival and departure.
Colombia does not use daylight saving time. Once US clocks fall back on Sunday 1 November, Barranquilla runs on the same time as New York.
The Copa Sudamericana final also falls on the Saturday before Thanksgiving, which is Thursday 26 November. Flights home that week overlap with holiday travel, so book return seats early.
Safety, Money and Getting Around
The US State Department rates Colombia at Level 3, Reconsider Travel, in an advisory issued on Tuesday 31 March 2026. It cites crime, terrorism, civil unrest, kidnapping and natural disasters.
Atlántico, the department that includes Barranquilla, is not on the Level 4 Do Not Travel list. That list names Arauca, Cauca outside Popayán, Valle del Cauca outside Cali, Norte de Santander and land within 10 kilometres of Venezuela.
The department warns against hailing taxis on the street, after US citizens were killed in robberies in such cabs. Use a dispatch service or a ride app instead.
US government staff may not use public transport or street taxis, and visitors are urged to take the same precautions. Ride-by thefts of phones and bags are common, so keep valuables out of sight.
The department also warns that criminals use dating apps to lure, drug and rob visitors, including US citizens. Never leave a drink unattended, and dial 123 for any emergency.
Colombia’s currency is the peso, at about 3,286 pesos to the US dollar on Tuesday 6 October 2026. Use ATMs inside banks or malls rather than on the street, as the State Department advises.
For everyday prices, see what a month in Barranquilla costs in 2026. Early arrivals can add Cartagena’s Independence festivities, which run from Wednesday 11 to Monday 16 November.
How Tickets Will Be Sold
CONMEBOL will sell tickets only through an official platform it has yet to name. Fans can already register interest on its Copa Sudamericana final page and receive sale alerts by email.
Registering is not a purchase and does not guarantee a seat, CONMEBOL says. The sale date, ticket categories, per-person limits and accessible seating will be announced later.
The confederation advises fans not to buy from unauthorised sellers or websites. La FM reported local predictions that Barranquilla residents alone could sell out the stadium.
Last year in Asunción, tickets went on sale about two weeks before the final. Each finalist club set its own sales rules for its fans’ allocation.
Prices in Asunción ran from US$90 to US$200, including service fees and taxes. CONMEBOL has not said whether Barranquilla will use the same price bands.
La FM expects the sale to open in the second-to-last week of October. CONMEBOL has not confirmed that timing and says registered fans will be told by email.
What Is Not Confirmed Yet
CONMEBOL has not yet announced the kick-off time for the Copa Sudamericana final. Last year’s final in Asunción started at 17:00 local time.
The two finalists will be known by Wednesday 21 October. CONMEBOL’s schedule still lists the stadium for Vasco da Gama’s home leg against Boca as to be confirmed.
Rumours in September that the final could move to Brazil were rejected by Colombian football federation president Ramón Jesurun. “The final is in Barranquilla,” he told El Heraldo, and CONMEBOL’s schedule still names the city.
Fan-festival dates and location, the official stadium reopening and the New York flight are also still open. Check CONMEBOL’s channels and your airline before booking anything for the Copa Sudamericana final that you cannot refund.
A Level 3 advisory is not a travel ban. CONMEBOL describes Barranquilla as a city with long experience of staging major sporting events.
More: Colombia news in English, every day from The Rio Times.
Frequently Asked Questions
When and where is the 2026 Copa Sudamericana final?
The Copa Sudamericana final is on Saturday 21 November 2026 at the Estadio Metropolitano Roberto Meléndez in Barranquilla, Colombia. CONMEBOL has not yet announced the kick-off time.
How can I buy tickets for the Copa Sudamericana final?
Only through the official platform CONMEBOL will announce, and you can register interest now on its Copa Sudamericana final page. The sale date and prices are not out yet, so avoid resellers.
Do US citizens need a visa to visit Barranquilla for the match?
No visa is needed for tourist stays of up to 90 days, but you need a valid US passport. Complete Colombia’s free online Check-Mig form between 72 hours and one hour before your flight.
Sources: CONMEBOL Sudamericana — Tickets Barranquilla 2026 (official final page), 6 October 2026; CONMEBOL Sudamericana — semi-final schedule, 21 September 2026; CONMEBOL — Barranquilla avanza en los preparativos, 5 August 2026; CONMEBOL — Gran avance de obras en Barranquilla, 22 April 2026; CONMEBOL — 2025 final ticket sale, Asunción, 7 November 2025; US State Department — Colombia Travel Advisory, 31 March 2026; US State Department — Colombia country information, 11 August 2025; La FM, 22 September 2026; Infobae Colombia, 19 January 2026; El Tiempo, 15 July 2026; El Heraldo, 3 October 2026; LaVibrante (EFE report), 23 September 2026; Infobae (semi-final schedule, final kick-off not set), 21 September 2026; Diario La Libertad, 4 October 2026; JetBlue press release (Barranquilla service launch), 1 October 2026.
This article was produced by The Rio Times’ automated newsroom system. How we use AI · Report an error · Editorial responsibility: Matthias Camenzind, Editor-in-Chief