Universitario de Deportes will launch its 2026 Women’s Libertadores campaign aiming to break a long‑standing barrier. The ‘leonas’ face Independiente del Valle, Argentina’s Belgrano and Brazil’s Palmeiras in Group B in Ecuador.
Coach Carlos Véliz leads the side into its sixth appearance, after trips in 2015, 2016, 2017, 2020 and 2023. Yet the team never reached the quarter‑finals. This edition, the top two from each group move on to knockouts.
The opener arrives Thursday, 15 October, against Palmeiras. Afterwards Universitario meets Independiente del Valle and finishes the group against Belgrano. All three games will decide a spot among the continent’s elite eight.
In Peru, Pluto TV streams every match for free, and the feed is also accessible in Bolivia, Ecuador, Venezuela, Paraguay and Uruguay.
Argentine fans can watch via TyC Sports and Pluto TV. Brazil’s coverage spreads across Sportv, N Sports, Cazé TV, X Sports, GolBrasil, Palmeiras TV and Pluto TV. Colombia tunes in with Win Sports and Pluto TV, while Chile uses ChileVisión plus Pluto TV.
Elsewhere, the official Copa Libertadores YouTube channel carries the tournament, though availability may differ by country and schedule.
Infobae Perú will run a dedicated portal covering Universitario’s run, offering previews, live minute‑by‑minute updates, key highlights, player quotes and the Group B table. For my money, their in‑depth analysis will be the go‑to source.
Thursday, October 15
- Corinthians (BRA) vs. Colo Colo (CHI) (19:00 Peru time / Estadio Rodrigo Paz Delgado)
- IDV (ECU) vs. Belgrano (ARG) (19:00 Peru time / Estadio IDV)
- Caracas FC (VEN) vs. Santa Fe (COL) (19:00 Peru time / Estadio Rodrigo Paz Delgado)
- Universitario de Deportes (PER) vs. Palmeiras (BRA) (19:00 Peru time / Estadio IDV)
Friday, October 16
- Deportivo Cali (COL) vs. Libertad (PAR) (15:00 Peru time / Estadio IDV)
- Bolívar (BOL) vs. Olimpia (PAR) (15:00 Peru time / Estadio Rodrigo Paz Delgado)
- Nacional (URU) vs. U. de Chile (CHI) (19:00 Peru time / Estadio IDV)
- Cruzeiro (BRA) vs. LDU Quito (ECU) (19:00 Peru time / Estadio Rodrigo Paz Delgado)
Universitario completed a prep tour in Chile, facing Universidad de Chile and Universidad Católica before heading to Ecuador. They fell 5‑2 to the blues at the Centro Deportivo Azul, then bounced back with a 4‑2 win over Católica in the final friendly.
Coach Véliz missed Mía Shalit, Carmen Campos, Valerie Gherson, Luz Campoverde, Grace Cagnina and Alesia García, all called up to the Peru national team. Their absence trimmed the squad’s options for the international friendlies.
Cagnina, García and Shalit rejoined the roster for the Libertadores and the decisive phase of the Peruvian league. The club also added 27‑year‑old American defender Valeria Itzel, widening the back‑line choices.
Midfield now features Chilean Ana Gutiérrez and striker Lesly Olivares, also from Chile. Their arrivals bolster a squad that must answer a group stacked with Palmeiras, Independiente del Valle and Belgrano.