Sao Paulo-based Palmeiras is going for a rare three-peat achieved by only two other teams in the history of the competition, both hailing from Argentina: Estudiantes (1968-1970) and Independiente (1972-1975), with the latter winning the competition over four straight seasons.
Brazilian clubs have dominated the Copa Libertadores in recent seasons, and the final has been an all-Brazilian affair in the last two with Palmeiras defeating Santos and Flamengo in consecutive seasons. A Brazilian team has won the trophy eight of the last 12 seasons dating back to 2010.
2022 Copa Libertadores schedule & format
The 2022 Copa Libertadores kicks off with three preliminary qualifying rounds which will determine the final four teams to join the field of 32 that will participate in the group stage (complete qualifying schedule further below).
The group-stage draw takes place on March 23 and the matches get underway on April 5.
Qualifying (Round 1): Feb. 8-9 (Leg 1) & Feb. 15-16 (Leg 2) Qualifying (Round 2): Feb. 22-24 (Leg 1) & March 1-3 (Leg 2) Qualifying (Round 3): March 8-10 (Leg 1) & March 15-17 (Leg 2) Group Stage: April 5-7, April 12-14, April 26-28, May 3-5, May 17-19, May 24-26 Round of 16: June 28-30 (Leg 1) & July 5-7 (Leg 2) Quarterfinals: Aug. 2-4 (Leg 1) & Aug. 9-11 (Leg 2) Semifinals: Aug. 30-31 (Leg 1) & Sept. 6-8 (Leg 2) Final: Sat, Oct. 29
A total of 16 teams (top two from each group) will qualify from the group stage to the knockout rounds. A draw will determine the knockout matchups and teams will face off in two-leg aggregate-goal series from the Round of 16 through to the semifinals. The final will be a single match played at a neutral venue in the Estadio Monumental of Guayaquil, Ecuador.
Similar to the UEFA Champions League, beginning with this 2022 edition of the Copa Libertadores, away goals will not be used as a tiebreaker should teams finish even on aggregate goals after both legs of a knockout series are played.
Two-leg series will head straight to penalty kicks in case of an aggregate-goal tie during the qualifying rounds, Round of 16, quarterfinals and semifinals. Extra time (30 minutes) will only be used for the final, according to official tournament rules.
How to watch the 2022 Copa Libertadores
Dates: Feb. 8 through Oct. 29 Times: 5:15 p. m. , 7:30 p. m. ET TV Channel: beIN Sports, beIN XTRA Spanish-language TV: beIN Sports en Espanol, bein XTRA Espanol Streaming: fuboTV, beIN Connect
The Copa Libertadores is carried in the USA and Canada on beIN Sports and beIN Sports Espanol.
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The beIN networks are streamed on fuboTV, which is available via a free trial in the USA only.
Teams in 2022 Copa Libertadores group stage
Here are the 28 teams that have automatically clinched a spot in the group stage of the 2022 Copa Libertadores.
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They will be joined by four other teams to emerge from the three rounds of qualifying (see further below).
Copa Libertadores 2022 Qualifying Rounds
The final four clubs to make it into the group stage will emerge from three grueling rounds of qualifying.
A total of 19 teams will be involved in this preliminary phase with home teams listed first below. The team that scores the most goals in each two-leg series advances.
If teams are even on aggregate goals at the end of the second leg, a penalty-kick shootout will determine the team that moves on, per official tournament rules (page 44). Extra time (30 minutes) will only be used for the championship final of the competition on Oct. 29.
