Boca Juniors will host Vasco da Gama in the Copa Sudamericana semifinals on Tuesday, Oct 13 at 21:30 in La Bombonera. A week later, the return leg is set for Tuesday, Oct 20, same kick‑off, in Brazil, though the venue remains undecided. Can Boca hold off Vasco’s push for a Rio showdown?
Juan Román Riquelme attended the CONMEBOL coordination meeting in Luque with the four semifinalists. The snag lies in São Januário, Vasco’s usual ground, which seats only 20,419—well short of CONMEBOL’s 30,000 minimum for semifinals and the required 4,000 visitor tickets.
Boca rejected Vasco’s proposal
Ante this impasse, Vasco suggested using São Januário and offering Boca fewer than the mandated 4,000 visitor seats, provided the Brazilian side received reciprocal treatment at La Bombonera. In my view, that low‑seat offer was unrealistic, so Boca’s board rejected it, forcing Vasco to keep hunting for a suitable stadium.
According to post‑meeting reports, the Maracanã consortium—run by Flamengo and Fluminense—won’t release the arena for the fixture because Flamengo is busy with the Libertadores that week. Vasco still hopes to play in Rio and is weighing other options.
Engenhão, the other option
If the Maracanã remains unavailable, the Nilton Santos Olympic Stadium—known as Engenhão and regularly used by Botafogo—emerges as a fallback. Neither option has been confirmed yet, and Vasco continues negotiations to lock down a venue.
How will the venue choice shape the showdown?
Boca will welcome Vasco on Tuesday, Oct 13 at 21:30 in La Bombonera, while the return leg is slated for Tuesday, Oct 20 at 21:30 in Brazil. The series winner advances to the Copa Sudamericana final on Nov 21 in Barranquilla.