CONMEBOL released the semifinal timetable on Monday, confirming the Copa Sudamericana clash between Boca Juniors and Vasco da Gama. The first leg will take place on Tuesday, 13 October at 21:30 in La Bombonera, and the return is set for 20 October, same time, on Brazilian soil. Can you imagine the atmosphere on Tuesday?
The venue for the second leg in Brazil remains undecided. São Januário, the usual home of the Rio club, fails to meet CONMEBOL’s 30,000‑seat minimum for this stage.
Despite that hurdle, there is precedent that could work for Vasco da Gama: in the 2025 edition, CONMEBOL granted Independiente del Valle permission to host a semifinal at Banco Guayaquil, even though its capacity fell short of the required minimum.
The club’s sporting director said several options are being weighed in Rio de Janeiro. “We’re looking at every possibility right now, including São Januário, Maracaná and Engenhão. Our priority is to play in Rio,” he told TyC Sports.
Vasco coach Rodolfo Arruabarrena praised his side after the San Lorenzo win, urging patience and calm. We know fans can get excited, that’s normal. We’re mid‑season, haven’t won anything yet and must keep working. A tough run of matches lies ahead, and he stressed the need for collective effort.
The coach’s remarks echo Boca’s current form: the team sits second on the Annual Table with 47 points, fifth in Zone A with 17 points, and boasts 14 unbeaten games. Their last loss came on 30 July to O’Higgins in Chile’s playoffs, though they advanced on penalties. They also face Racing in the Copa Argentina quarter‑finals. In my view, Boca’s consistency makes them the favorites.
Boca knocked out San Pablo in the quarter‑finals 2‑1 on aggregate. Meanwhile, Vasco da Gama beat Independiente Santa Fe 2‑0 overall, after a solid away performance in Colombia that followed Santa Fe’s earlier elimination of River Plate.
The parallel bracket pits City Torque against Atlético Mineiro, fighting for the second Copa Sudamericana final slot. The championship decider is slated for Saturday, 21 November at the Metropolitano stadium in Barranquilla, Colombia.
The final’s kick‑off time hasn’t been set by CONMEBOL yet. Last edition started at 17:00 Argentina time, the same slot used in Asunción, so the showdown will likely follow a similar schedule, making timing a crucial factor for fans.