Latin America Sports Daily for Sunday, September 27, 2026

Libertadores semis: Brazilian giants on a collision course

Preview

The path to the Copa Libertadores final is now clear. Fluminense will meet Palmeiras in one semifinal, while Estudiantes de La Plata face Flamengo in the other.

The first legs are set for 14 and 15 October, with Fluminense at home in Rio and Estudiantes at home in La Plata. The return matches follow on 21 and 22 October.

Fluminense reached this stage by beating Platense 3–2 on aggregate, winning 2–0 in Rio before losing the return 2–1. Palmeiras survived Liga de Quito, going through on penalties after the tie finished 3–3.

Estudiantes edged Corinthians 2–1 over two legs, drawing 1–1 at home and winning 1–0 in São Paulo. Flamengo advanced past Independiente del Valle 3–1 on aggregate, winning 2–0 in Quito and drawing 1–1 at the Maracanã.

Because Fluminense and Palmeiras were drawn against each other, Brazil is already guaranteed at least one place in the final. Estudiantes are the last Argentine club in the competition and are back in the semifinals for the first time in 17 years.

The Libertadores is South America’s premier club competition, and the final is a single match at a venue fixed in advance. This year that venue is the Estadio Centenario in Montevideo, the Uruguayan national stadium built for the first World Cup in 1930.

Boca and Racing meet in the Copa Argentina quarter-finals

Preview

Boca Juniors and Racing Club meet on Sunday 27 September in the quarter-finals of the Copa Argentina. Kickoff is at 17:00 Argentine time, 20:00 GMT, at the Gigante de Arroyito in Rosario.

The Copa Argentina is a straight knockout cup open to clubs from every division of the Argentine game. Its ties are played at neutral grounds, which is why two Buenos Aires clubs are meeting roughly 300 kilometres away in Santa Fe province.

The winner goes into a semifinal against Banfield, who knocked out Deportivo Riestra on penalties earlier this month. Andrés Gariano referees the tie, which TyC Sports carries in Argentina.

The prize is worth spelling out: the Copa Argentina champion takes an automatic place in next year’s Copa Libertadores. That turns a domestic cup into a shortcut back to the continental stage for whichever side survives.

Boca are fighting on a second front, having reached the Copa Sudamericana semifinals, where they face Vasco da Gama in October. Racing are not among the clubs left in either continental competition and can give the cup their full attention.

There is no second leg to recover in, so a single afternoon settles the tie. If the score is level after ninety minutes the tie goes straight to a penalty shootout, with no extra time played.

Liga MX: Pumas, León and Necaxa close matchday 10

Football

Mexico’s Liga MX finishes its tenth round on Sunday with three matches. Pumas UNAM host Atlético San Luis at 12:00, León meet FC Juárez at 19:00 and Necaxa face América at 21:00, all Mexico City time.

The round opened on Friday, when Atlante beat Monterrey 4–2 and Atlas won 3–2 away at Tijuana. Both results ended long droughts, Atlante’s running to six matches without a win and Atlas’s to four.

Saturday brought four more games. Cruz Azul drew 3–3 with Toluca after equalising in the 95th minute, Querétaro won 2–0 at Guadalajara, and Tigres and Santos Laguna each won 1–0 at home against Puebla and Pachuca.

Toluca lead the table on 20 points, ahead of Guadalajara on 18 and América and Querétaro on 17. América can climb above Guadalajara by beating Necaxa on Sunday night.

Mexico’s season is split into two short championships, and the one under way is the Apertura 2026. Only the top eight of its eighteen clubs reach the knockout liguilla that decides the title, and the play-in round that used to rescue the places below has been scrapped this season, which is why a single round this early already counts.

Copa Sudamericana semi-finals locked in for October

Football

The Copa Sudamericana semifinals pair Boca Juniors with Vasco da Gama and Atlético Mineiro with Montevideo City Torque. First legs are scheduled for 13 and 14 October, with the return legs on 20 and 21 October.

The Sudamericana is the continent’s second club competition, ranked below the Libertadores in the same way the Europa League sits below the Champions League. Its champion takes an automatic place in the next Copa Libertadores, so the tournament is a route back to the top table rather than a consolation.

The final is a single match on 21 November at the Estadio Metropolitano in Barranquilla, Colombia. It falls a week before the Libertadores final in Montevideo.

Two Brazilian clubs, one Argentine and one Uruguayan make up the last four. Boca host Vasco at La Bombonera on Tuesday 13 October at 21:30 Argentine time, and Atlético Mineiro host Montevideo City Torque at the Arena MRV in Belo Horizonte on Wednesday 14 October at 19:00.

Libertadores quarter-final recap: how the semis were made

Result

Fluminense built their 3–2 aggregate win over Platense at home, taking a 2–0 lead in Rio and then losing the return 2–1. Palmeiras came closer to going out, drawing 3–3 with Liga de Quito over the two legs and winning the penalty shootout.

Estudiantes did their damage away, drawing 1–1 with Corinthians in La Plata before winning 1–0 in São Paulo. Flamengo took a 2–0 win in Quito against Independiente del Valle and drew 1–1 at the Maracanã for a 3–1 aggregate.

Three Brazilian clubs and one Argentine club came through the round, and Ecuador lost both its representatives. The draw then put Fluminense and Palmeiras together, so at least one Brazilian side is certain to reach the final.

The semifinals run from 14 to 22 October across the two legs. The Centenario final on 28 November closes the competition.

Frequently Asked Questions

FAQ

Who will play in the Copa Libertadores final?

The finalists come from the semifinals between Fluminense and Palmeiras, and between Estudiantes de La Plata and Flamengo.

The first legs are on 14 and 15 October and the return legs on 21 and 22 October, with the final on 28 November 2026 at the Estadio Centenario in Montevideo.

When do Boca and Racing play?

They meet on Sunday 27 September 2026 at 17:00 Argentine time, 20:00 GMT, in the quarter-finals of the Copa Argentina.

The match is played at the Gigante de Arroyito in Rosario, and the winner faces Banfield in the semifinals.

What Liga MX matches are on today?

Sunday’s matchday 10 games are Pumas against Atlético San Luis at 12:00, León against FC Juárez at 19:00 and Necaxa against América at 21:00, Mexico City time.

The rest of the round was played on Friday and Saturday, and Toluca stayed top after a 3–3 draw at Cruz Azul.